THE INVOLVEMENT ISSUE OF PALESTINE STATEHOOD IN UNITED NATIONS

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess and to examine the involvement of Palestine statehood in the United Nations for six decades. Although there are principles of international law in the Montevideo Convention that set out the definition, rights and duties of statehood which, in turn regulate the states’ behaviours by imposing obligations and sanctions; the Palestine’s people repeated requests for statehood has not yet been solved for long period of time. The general objective of this study was to define and to characterize the notion of statehood as it exists in the present-day international legal order, and to examine whether or not such criteria exist in Palestine. To achieve these objectives, non-doctrinal research design and qualitative research approach were used to collect primary data from key informants using interview guide. Secondary data were also generated from relevant different documents through documentary analysis template/matrix. The findings of the study show that the opposition by two veto powerful states alone prevented Palestine’s rights to be admitted as a member state to the UN. However, the UN was found to be have an arbitrator role. Palestine used the unilateral action to acquire statehood, but her attempt failed. Therefore, the PLO had only observer entity status. Nevertheless, Palestines believed that more than two-third of the General Assembly would recognize their statehood. In the UN, there were double standards. There was also undemocratic nature of voting in the Organization. The relationship between the United States and Israel in the UN influenced the Palestine’s claims for statehood. Regarding Palestine, the UN’s situation became a gridlock which had prevented its claims from pursuing further. In the final analysis, the power of decision making got absorbed in the hands of the “Big Five’ sates which may hinder UN from realizing its 1945 envisaged purposes. In conclusion, the favours on the part of the two veto powers fro Israel, as well as undemocratic voting practice in the UN has created unfavourable situation and struggling path for Palestine to achieve statehood status. It is recommended that those who are engaged in the issue should become more proactive and should be genuine in promoting the already established principles and criteria of the statehood in international law to resolve the Palestine statehood.