Antinuclear

UK follows Australia’s lead – will not vote against Palestine’s upgraded status in United Nations

UK may abstain in Palestinian vote ABC News, By Europe correspondent Rachael Brown, and wires, 29 Nov 12 Britain has signalled that it could join Australia in abstaining from the vote on upgraded diplomatic status for Palestinians at the United Nations. The vote on upgrading the Palestinians from their current permanent observer status is seen as a stepping stone in their ambition for statehood.

Australia will abstain from the vote after  Prime Minister Julia Gillard reportedly caved in to pressure from her Cabinet earlier this week.

The UK says it will not oppose moves to upgrade the Palestinians to a non-member observer state, but foreign secretary William Hague says he wants a number of assurances first.

Mr Hague says the Palestinians must seek to negotiate with Israel without pre-conditions.

“In the absence of these assurances, the United Kingdom would abstain on the vote,” he said…… France has led several European countries in supporting the Palestinian bid for their UN status to be upgraded to that of a “non-member state”, which would win them new global recognition.

Germany says it will not vote in favour of the bid.

Even without Britain’s vote, the Palestinians are poised to win the backing of a majority of the General Assembly’s 193 member states, although they face strong opposition from the United States and Israel.

Along with France, European supporters of the Palestinian upgrade include Spain, Norway, Denmark, Greece and Switzerland.

Lithuania has said it will abstain on the vote, which would give the Palestinians the same diplomatic status at the UN as the Vatican. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-29/uk-could-abstain-in-palestinian-vote/4397908

November 28, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized