The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Thursday, April 18th, on Palestine's application for full membership in the United Nations.

Palestine, which has held observer status at the UN since 2012, has long lobbied for full membership. This status would be a significant step towards international recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

However, the path to membership is challenging. Any application must first be approved by the Security Council, where the United States, a close ally of Israel, holds veto power. Following Security Council approval, the General Assembly would need to endorse the bid.

In light of the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestine revived its 2011 membership application. The Security Council launched a formal review process, but a committee failed to reach a consensus on April 12th.

The Arab Group, a regional bloc within the UN, expressed strong support for Palestine's application, viewing membership as a crucial step towards a peaceful resolution based on international law.

Algeria, a current non-permanent member of the Security Council, has drafted a resolution recommending Palestine's admission to the General Assembly.

Despite support from many UN members (137 out of 193 recognize Palestine according to the Palestinian side), a US veto in the Security Council is widely expected. The US position maintains that Palestinian statehood should be the outcome of negotiated peace talks with Israel.

This stance aligns with a recent Israeli Knesset resolution overwhelmingly passed in February, rejecting any international pressure to recognize a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that a solution can only be achieved through direct negotiations without preconditions.

The upcoming vote is likely to be symbolic, highlighting the ongoing international divide on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (ILKHA)