ADVERTISEMENT

Country join 2 UN agencies, chemical weapons pact

At the United Nations, the Palestinians have the status of a non-member observer state that allows them to seek membership of agencies and become a party to international treaties.

The move will raise the Palestinians' profile in international diplomacy and comes amid a rift with President Donald Trump's administration over its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The Palestinians want to make East Jerusalem the capital of their promised future state.

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN coordinator for the Middle East, told the Security Council that the Palestinians had joined the Geneva-based UN trade organization UNCTAD, Vienna-based industrial development agency UNIDO and the Chemical Weapons Convention.

ADVERTISEMENT

"On May 15, Palestine acceded to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Convention on the Prohibition, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons," Mladenov said.

The envoy did not address whether the decision will have an impact on funding from the United States for these agencies and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The United States withdrew in 1996 from UNIDO, a little-known agency that promotes "inclusive and sustainable industrial development," according to its website.

The OPCW and UNCTAD rely on voluntary contributions from UN member-states to fund its activities as well as regular funding for its budget.

The United States withdrew some funding for UNESCO when the Palestinians joined the cultural and education agency in 2011 and last year pulled out of the agency altogether.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Trump administration has also cut funds to the UN Palestinian refugee agency, leaving UNRWA struggling to fill a major gap in its education and health programs.

The OPCW announced in The Hague earlier that Palestine will become the 193rd state to join the chemical weapons convention.

Only four countries -- Israel, Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan -- have yet to ratify the chemical weapons convention, which aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.

The Palestinians angered Israel when they became a state-party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2015.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki this week met with the ICC chief prosecutor to push for an investigation of Israeli war crimes after more than 60 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, the worst violence since the 2014 war.

ADVERTISEMENT

The United Nations granted Palestine non-member observer state status in 2012, but an upgrade to full membership would require unanimous backing from the Security Council -- an unlikely outcome, given the near-certainty of a US veto.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Lecturers need to undergo drug test to sanitise university system - Former VC

Lecturers need to undergo drug test to sanitise university system - Former VC

APC chieftains challenge EFCC to follow due process in Yahaya Bello's case

APC chieftains challenge EFCC to follow due process in Yahaya Bello's case

3 dead, 2 injured in 3-storey building collapse in Kano - NEMA confirms

3 dead, 2 injured in 3-storey building collapse in Kano - NEMA confirms

Lagos NCS visits family of stampede victim, promises nonstop financial support

Lagos NCS visits family of stampede victim, promises nonstop financial support

Husband appeals to I-G to find missing Police wife who went on official duty

Husband appeals to I-G to find missing Police wife who went on official duty

ASUU Sokoto demands council reconfirmation, payment of allowances

ASUU Sokoto demands council reconfirmation, payment of allowances

Yahaya Bello: Charge, prosecute US school for money laundering - Sowore to EFCC

Yahaya Bello: Charge, prosecute US school for money laundering - Sowore to EFCC

Don't hide deformed kids, they can contribute to nation's growth - Expert

Don't hide deformed kids, they can contribute to nation's growth - Expert

Tragedy as suspected bandits ambush, kill army commander in Katsina

Tragedy as suspected bandits ambush, kill army commander in Katsina

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT