Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed says it is shameful that one vote can ignore the defeating call for justice for Palestine as it seeks full UN membership.
He said that as he delivered a statement on behalf of the Maldives on the veto cast at the United Nations Security Council on the admission of Palestine as a full member of the United States.
The Minister delivered his statement at the meeting held at the United Nations General Assembly UNGA yesterday.
In his statement, the Minister said that it was shameful that only a vote can ignore the defeating call for justice for Palestine and that the call was accorded by over 140 member states of the general assembly including 12 member states of the UNSC.
He said that yet one country out of the 195 United Nations member states defied the outcry for justice and that with that one vote the UNSC has yet again failed.
Minister Haidar said that with that veto the UNSC has failed to stop Israel's ongoing genocide. He stressed that Israel is continuing its mass killing in Palestine and that the UNSC cannot claim to be unaware of the situation on the ground in Palestine right now. The Minister said that Israel's unbearable escalation of violence and terror is being normalized through the council's inaction.
Minister Haidar said that this is the time for the UNGA to say 'no' to the veto as the veto has been used to encourage Israel to continue with apartheid, continue with illegal occupation, and continue with illegal settlements.
Speaking further on behalf of the Maldives, Minister Haidar said that the only lasting solution that can be achieved in the Middle East is for Israel to recognize and respect the sovereignty of Palestine. He said that Israel should withdraw from occupied Palestinian lands and Israel should allow the return of Palestinian refugees driven out of their homes since 1948.
The Minister said that one key obstacle to achieving this is the veto and that the UNGA must abolish it.
Last month, the UNSC blocked Palestine's bid to become a full member of the United Nations due to a United States veto on a draft resolution that would have recommended the granting of such status.
