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Church leaders in the Holy Land expressed support for the United Nations bid by Palestine to gain non-member status as the critical vote drew near in New York.
“The Holy Land’s churches unanimously support the Palestinian National Authority’s accomplishment. The soul and prayers of the Holy Land’s Christians ask for this step to be taken,” said Monsignor Maroun Lahham, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar General in Jordan.
Monsignor Lahham told the Fides Catholic news service that “every step towards the recognition of the Palestinian state is good. Despite all the obstacles, it is undeniable that Palestinians have come a long way since the days when they were just refugees without a homeland.”
The vote on the United Nations bid by Palestine for non-member status was expected to take place on November 29 — the anniversary of the 1947 UN decision to partition what was then British-controlled Palestine into Israeli and Arab territories.
Jewish leaders agreed, but Arabs rejected the plan. War erupted, and the Palestinians remain without a state. The UN now observes November 29 as its annual day of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Last year an attempt by Palestine to gain full UN membership was defeated after the United States threatened to use its veto in the Security Council to block the bid.
Despite continued opposition from the US and Israel, the Palestinian authority claimed it could count on a majority for its current attempt.
UN recognition of Palestine as a state could have far-reaching political and legal implications. It could give Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas greater standing in negotiations with Israel, and it might give Palestine the legal right to bring cases against Israel in the International Criminal Court.
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Image: Vatican Insider
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News category: World.
