The 79th session of the UN General Assembly commenced in New York on Tuesday, with Palestine, although not a full UN member, being allocated a seat alongside the member states in the General Assembly Hall. Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour took his place at a table labeled “State of Palestine” between Sri Lanka and Sudan.
The Permanent Mission of Palestine to the UN shared a social media clip of Egyptian Ambassador Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud raising a point of order to confirm the new seating arrangement, which was affirmed by the UNGA President. The decision, however, has been criticized by Israel, which argues that UN membership and associated privileges are reserved for sovereign states.
Palestine currently holds observer status at the UN. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly on May 10, to reconsider Palestine’s UN membership in the UN Security Council, granted additional rights, allowing it to participate in General Assembly sessions and UN meetings “on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent.” The resolution was passed by a majority of 143 votes, including India’s.
Philemon Yang, former Prime Minister of Cameroon and newly elected President of the General Assembly, succeeded Dennis Francis. Yang emphasized the need to resolve ongoing conflicts and place human rights at the forefront of the assembly’s agenda.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged the challenging global context, highlighting issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. He called for collaborative efforts to address these challenges and stressed the importance of the General Assembly in finding solutions.
The “Summit of the Future” will be held at the UN Headquarters on September 22-23, ahead of the General Debate from September 24-30.
Themed “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” the debate focuses on forging a “Pact for the Future.” It aims to enhance global cooperation and address pressing issues such as nuclear disarmament, rising sea levels, and the strengthening of global health systems.
(With ANI input)