Geneva, May 26 (Reuters) – Palestinian delegations have earned the right to raise the flag at the World Health Organization after an iconic victory in the poll on Monday.
The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, faced 95 people at the global agency’s annual meeting in Geneva, against four against Israel, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany, and supported 27 abstentions.
That follows the successful bid for membership in the United Nations General Assembly last year, among the indications that France can recognize the Palestinian state.
In an obvious reference to the devastating Israeli Hama war in Gaza, Lebanese representative Lana El Coulee said the outcome of the vote “spent a small hope for the brave Palestinians, whose suffering has reached unbearable levels.”
Israeli Ambassador Daniel Mellon eroded orders based on UN principles and regulations and opposed the WHO resolution calling for a vote.
“It sends a dangerous message that political symbolism can override legal standards, emotions can replace processes, and partisan interests can flex the rules of international legitimacy,” he said. Its main ally, the United States, plans to leave the WHO, but did not participate.
While almost 150 countries recognize Palestinian states, most major western and other major powers, such as the US, UK, France, Germany and Japan, are not.
France and Japan voted in favor of the proposal while the UK abstained.
“It’s symbolic and it’s one act, but it’s a sign that we are part of the international community supporting our health needs,” Ibrahim Kraisi, Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told Reuters. “We hope we have full membership in the WHO and all UN Forums soon.”
Palestinians are seeking a state in Israel’s territory captured in the 1967 Middle East War.
They have official observer state status in the WHO. This is now undergoing transformation, as if we are going through life without the largest donors in the United States.
Last week, Palestinians earned the right to receive notifications under the WHO international health regulations. This is a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks.
(Reported by Emma Phage, edited by Mark Heinrich)
