Why Italy abstained (with 24 other states) from voting to include Palestine in the UN

“Italy shares the goal of comprehensive and lasting peace which can only be achieved on the basis of a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized and agreed upon borders. We believe that this goal must be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties and we doubt that the approval of today’s resolution will contribute to the goal of a lasting solution to the conflict. For this reason we have decided to abstain”, explained the Italian permanent representative, ambassador Maurizio Massariillustrating Italy’s position on the vote in the General Assembly, which approved a resolution to accept Palestine’s request to become a full member of the UN, with 143 votes in favour, 9 against and 25 abstentions.

“The importance of restoring a political horizon to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people should guide our action in the medium term – added Massari – In the short term, priority should be given to the resolution of the catastrophic and tragic humanitarian crisis in Gaza” .

For Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations, recognition must pass through the approval of the Security Council and key players such as the United States, which holds the veto power and which again today voted against. But today’s step is still a symbolic victory for Palestine, which can aspire to obtain state status on the international scene.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, strongly opposed the resolution, equating it to the approval of a “terrorist state” led by groups such as Hamas. He warned against what he considered “a reversal of the founding principles of the UN, created precisely to put an end to Nazi tyrannies”.

While PA President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the support of the resolution, underlining global solidarity against the Israeli occupation. Italy is among the 25 countries that abstained, together with other important international players such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Moldova, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Vanuatu also abstained.

Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, told the General Assembly that the “unilateral” measures at the UN and on the ground will not advance a two-state solution. “Our vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood. We have been very clear that we support it and seek to advance it in a meaningful way. Instead, it is a recognition that statehood will only emerge from a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties”, he underlined.

The reactions

“We have received very positive news that the UN has approved the entry of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations: for us who have been asking for a ceasefire since October and to resume a path of peace aimed at a solution politics of two peoples and two states is an important step forward”, said the leader of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, on the sidelines of an electoral initiative in Pesaro. “The Palestinian people are not Hamas, to isolate Hamas we must not crush the legitimate aspiration of the Palestinians to have a state in which to live in peace and security, just as it is right that the Israelis can live in peace and security. We will continue to fight for peace”, reiterated the dem leader.

“Italy’s abstention from the UN Assembly to make Palestine a full member of the United Nations is a mistake, yet another. We will ask Parliament to account for it. Now stop Netanyahu’s unfortunate plan for an attack on Rafah: a catastrophe within a catastrophe”, he commented on social media Peppe Provenzanohead of foreign affairs at the secretariat of the Democratic Party.

“Why did Italy abstain on Palestine’s membership in the United Nations? A choice in open contradiction with the Parliament’s vote in 2015 when a motion for the recognition of the State of Palestine was approved. A cynical decision by Meloni”, the leader of the PD group in the Labor Committee of the Chamber wrote on social media, Arturo Scotto.

“Today, Melonian Italy demonstrated its true face for the umpteenth time, with yet another shameful abstention on the historic resolution approved today, with a massive vote, by the UN General Assembly which gave the green light to membership of Palestine to the UN as a full member. Countries such as France and Spain voted in favor, while Italy passively aligned itself with the United States and the United Kingdom a dramatic moment, with Netanyahu’s tanks aiming their cannons at Rafah. The 5 Star Movement condemns this vote, given not in the name of Italy which believes in peace, not in our name”, declared the parliamentarians of the 5 Star Movement of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the House and Senate.