Belgium says yes to upgraded UN status for Palestine

Belgium last night voted in favour of Palestine gaining observer non-member state status of the United Nations. The outcome of the vote, held among the 193-member assembly in New York, was 138 in favour, nine against and 41 abstentions. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders had stated on Thursday morning that the Inner Cabinet had endorsed the proposal for Belgium to support the draft resolution to confer observer non-member state status to Palestine. This was in line with his continued efforts of the past few weeks to reach a joint European position on the issue.  Reynders regretted that such a common position has seemed impossible to achieve, but remained faithful to his goal of a stronger and more credible European Union in the Middle East peace process. He therefore proposed that the Belgian government align its standpoint to that of an increasing number of EU partners that support the resolution.  Reynders stressed that Belgium’s support for the resolution goes hand-in-hand with an appeal to Israel and to the Palestinian Authority to return to negotiations without pre-conditions, in order to reach a solution that results in two viable and secure states. To this end, Belgium has always assisted Palestine in creating a viable state structure and economy. On October 15, in a letter to President Abbas (pictured), Minister Reynders outlined his intention to raise the diplomatic status of the Palestinian Authority delegation in Brussels.