Xi calls for a Palestinian state to become ‘full member’ of UN

By alexandreManagement

Xi calls for a Palestinian state to become ‘full member’ of UN

Introduction

On May 18th, 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his support for an independent Palestinian state during a virtual summit with leaders of the Arab League. Specifically, he called for Palestine to become a “full member” of the United Nations (UN). This article will explore Xi’s comments and their potential impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Xi’s Speech

Xi made his comments during a video conference with Arab League leaders, which was attended by the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In his speech, Xi expressed China’s commitment to promoting peace in the Middle East and praised the Arab League for its “positive role” in the region. He also reiterated China’s long-standing support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Importantly, Xi also called for Palestine to be granted full membership in the UN, which would give it greater international legitimacy and recognition. Currently, Palestine is only recognized as a non-member observer state, a status it has held since 2012. Xi’s call for full membership reflects China’s desire to see Palestine represented on the world stage and to increase pressure on Israel to negotiate a lasting peace agreement.

China’s support for a Palestinian state is not new. The country has long been critical of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and has provided significant financial aid to the Palestinian Authority over the years. However, Xi’s explicit call for full UN membership was seen as a notable escalation in China’s stance on the conflict.

Reaction to Xi’s Speech

Xi’s remarks were welcomed by many Arab leaders, who praised China’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Xi for his support and urged the international community to redouble its efforts to resolve the conflict.

However, Israel responded negatively to Xi’s comments, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning them as “unwarranted meddling” in the conflict. Netanyahu has long been critical of China’s growing influence in the Middle East and has sought to strengthen ties with Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which recently normalized relations with Israel.

It remains to be seen how Xi’s call for a Palestinian state to become a full member of the UN will affect the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some analysts believe that it could increase pressure on Israel to negotiate a peace agreement, while others argue that it is unlikely to change the status quo. Nevertheless, Xi’s speech underscores China’s commitment to promoting peace in the Middle East and its desire to play a more active role in the region.

Conclusion

Xi Jinping’s call for a Palestinian state to become a full member of the UN is a significant development in China’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By explicitly endorsing Palestine’s bid for full membership, Xi has signaled China’s strong support for an independent Palestinian state and its desire to see the conflict resolved through peaceful means. Whether this will have any real impact on the ground remains to be seen, but it is clear that China is increasingly positioning itself as a key player in the Middle East and is seeking to play a more active role in regional affairs.