Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour, on Tuesday, appealed in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres requesting renewed consideration by the Security Council of a Palestinian application for full membership made in 2011.
A council committee of the 15 members first assesses an application to see if it satisfies the requirements for U.N. membership. The application can then either be shelved or put forward for a formal vote in the Security Council. Approval requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the U.S., Russia, China, France or Britain.
If the council approves the membership request, it then moves to the General Assembly for approval. A membership request needs a two-thirds majority to be approved by the assembly. A country cannot join the United Nations unless both the Security Council and General Assembly approve.
Even if a vote is to take place in the Security Council, it is still unclear whether the Palestinians would be able to muster the necessary nine votes. Six members would likely support their request – China, Russia, Algeria, Giana, Mozambique, and Sierra Lion, and Slovenia and Malta are inclined to also vote yes.
Spain has said it agrees with an initiative of the leaders of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to begin preliminary steps towards recognition of a Palestinian State. On Wednesday, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said his country considered a path to recognizing a sovereign Palestinian State and therefore, there would be reason to accept it as a full member of the UN. But other countries have not yet stated their position, including France.
If the Palestinian request receives the majority needed in the Security Council the United States would be pushed into a corner and be forced to decide whether or not to veto the vote. Based on its past positions, such a veto could be expected but the administration could decide to change their policy and by doing so, force the establishment of a Palestinian State.
If the request is accepted by the Security Council, the Palestinians would need the support of two-thirds of the member-states present. If successful, their status would immediately change from "Non-Member State" to a full member of the UN.