Israel prepares to undermine PA’s proposal to suspend its UN membership

Israel’s foreign ministry and its diplomatic mission at the UN have been preparing to fight against a Palestinian Authority (PA) plan to suspend Tel Aviv’s UN membership, Arab48 reported yesterday.

The PA proposal came in the wake of the approval of the “nation-state bill” by the Knesset, which considers Israel a nation state for Jews only.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the PA would submit a question to the UN legal department to see whether the law complies with the charter of the international organisation, stressing that it reinforces “racial discrimination and apartheid”.

During a visit to the Palestinian village of Khan Al-Ahmar, which Israel has threatened with demolition, PLO Executive Committee Secretary-General Saeb Erekat said: “Israel is a country that is in total violation of the charter of the UN. Does it deserve to be a member of the UN and any of its agencies or not?”

Read: Israel planned Khan Al-Ahmar demolition 40 years ago

Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that Israel expects the PA to take measures similar to those taken against South Africa when its membership was suspended over its apartheid regime.

In order to suspend or rescind Israel’s membership, the PA needs two-thirds of votes of the UN General Assembly members, including the five permanent UN Security Council’s members; China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Such a move is unlikely to get the US’ backing.

“This is an empty and silly attempt by the Palestinians to spread lies and silence the truth through the UN,” Yedioth Ahronoth reported Israeli envoy to the UN Danny Danon saying.