Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said that his delegation, in coordination with the United States, is preparing to block any attempts by the Palestinians for full state membership at the United Nations.
“Even as it continues to pay salaries to terrorists every month, encourage violence and lead an unrelenting campaign of incitement against Israel, the Palestinian Authority has the audacity to ask the Security Council to recognize it as a full member state of the United Nations,” Danon said in a statement.
“Instead of focusing on building a better and more hopeful future for the Palestinians and helping to ensure stability in the region, the Palestinian leadership is continuing its destructive policies that have encouraged recent terror attacks, including the murder of the four-day-old baby, Amiad Yisrael (z”l),” he said.
The announcement by Danon comes after P.A. Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said the Palestinians would appeal to the U.N. Security Council to gain recognition as a full member state. This is expected to come against the backdrop of the Security Council’s quarterly discussion on the status of the Middle East, which is expected to take place on Jan. 15.
In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly granted to the Palestinians non-observer status. That move enabled the Palestinians to join a number of international organizations, such as the International Criminal Court.
However, an upgrade to full membership at the world body would require support from the Security Council, where the United States holds veto power.
