Somali Magazine Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib announced Monday that her nation will back a resolution recognizing Palestine as a full member of the UN.
“The vote will be held this week, on May 10. “It is critical that the European Union does not miss this historic opportunity,” Lahbib said during her meeting with her Palestinian colleague, Riyad al-Maliki.
She also stated that Belgium wants to co-sponsor and support the resolution.
On X, Lahbib shared a photo of her meeting with the Palestinian foreign minister and stated that Belgium will support Palestine’s UN status, which she described as her “message to Riyad al-Maliki.”
She also stated that it is “a first important step on the road to peace.”
Palestine was admitted as an observer state to the UN General Assembly in 2012, allowing its envoy to participate in discussions and UN organizations but without voting.
On April 18, the United States blocked a Palestinian appeal to the United Nations Security Council for full membership. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 12 in favor, with the United States opposing and two abstentions (the United Kingdom and Switzerland).
To pass, a council resolution must have at least nine votes and have no vetoes from the permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, or China).