Qatar urges UN to uphold its responsibilities toward Palestinian bid

The state of Qatar, on behalf of the Arab group at the United Nations, Tuesday called on the UN Security Council to uphold its responsibilities in accordance with the UN charter regrading the Palestinian bid to seek full UN membership, according to the Middle East News Agency (MENA). Qatar expressed the Arab group’s hope that the Palestinian bid will gain a positive recommendation of the Security Council as a prelude to submit it to the General Assembly to approve it. It hoped that the bid will have the support of all members of the Security Council, particularly after Palestine got an official recognition of 130 countries, a vast majority of the UN member countries. This came in a statement delivered by Sheikh Mishal Al Thani, Qatar’s permanent representative at the UN, during a meeting held to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. “Today we have a real opportunity to achieve a major step towards a realistic solution to the Palestinian issue, which requires serious political will of the Security Council, and its upholding its responsibilities in accordance with the UN charter regarding the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue,” said Al Thani. He stressed that the success of negotiations requires the halt of settlement activities and Israeli oppressive policies against Palestinians as well as the lift of the unjust, inhumane and illegal blockade imposed on Gaza. He added that the Palestinians' application for statehood does not mean closing the door on negotiations with the Israeli side, pointing out that the Palestinian side is awaiting the resumption of negotiations as the Quartet called for in its latest statement.