KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 10, 2024 — Jamaica today was among 143 countries that voted in favour of a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly for the Security Council to reconsider the application of Palestine for membership of the United Nations (UN), The Jamaica Gleaner reported today.
Recognising that the granting of membership resides with the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council, the resolution calls on the council to act, and expands the rights of the State of Palestine as a Permanent Observer in the General Assembly.
Nine countries voted against the resolution while 25 countries abstained.
In welcoming the result, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, said Jamaica has long maintained a position of supporting a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a two-state solution that guarantees the security of Israel and the right of Palestine to an independent, viable and sovereign state within the pre-1967 borders.
“Our support for this vote takes place in the context of our having been lending our voice to efforts at the regional and multilateral levels to bring an end to the hostilities, to ensure access to unhindered humanitarian aid, and to support efforts for de-escalation and the establishment of lasting peace in the region,” she said.
Last month, Jamaica took the decision to recognise the State of Palestine.
Since then, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas have also done the same, bringing to 14 the number of CARICOM Member States that recognise the State of Palestine.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Brian Wallace, Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, reiterated the importance of Jamaica’s support for the resolution and explained that Jamaica’s consideration of the matter is also based on, “our commitment to the UN Charter, our strong advocacy for the right of peoples to self-determination, our fundamental belief in multilateralism and the rule of law, and the promotion of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
In support of this position, Jamaica calls for the UN Security Council to revisit the application for UN membership of the State of Palestine.
Last month, Palestine renewed its application to become the 194th member of the United Nations.
The Charter of the United Nations requires that applications be considered by the Security Council and, if there is agreement, be recommended to the General Assembly for action.
The request was not endorsed by all members of the council when it last met on April 18.
