Experts: Palestinians Taking Helm of G-77 Is a Boost for Statehood

The Palestinians on Tuesday assumed the 2019 chairmanship of G-77, a group of 134 countries including the biggest of developing countries at the United Nations, despite objections from the U.S. and Israel.

The resolution, passed almost unanimously at the U.N. General Assembly in December, temporarily grants the “State of Palestine” additional rights and significant power to shape the U.N.’s agenda in the upcoming year.

The Group of 77, which includes China, accounts for 80 percent of the world’s population and some two-thirds of all U.N. member states.

The decision to give the Palestinians leadership of the group was made in November by world leaders in a bid to boost the Palestinians’ push for statehood.

The U.S. opposed the resolution, saying it enhanced the Palestinians’ diplomatic status outside of direct negotiations with Israel.

Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Noa Furman said in December that the resolution “clearly weakens and undermines the U.N.”

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), stated Tuesday that the Palestinians’ new leadership role was “a historic step.”

“With this national accomplishment, Palestine has launched a critical historical phase in which it will exercise its new role within the international system,” he added.

He underscored that “such recognition signifies the recognition of the international community of Palestinian statehood and our right to self-determination. Despite the reality under Israel’s military occupation, Palestine can play a significant role within the global system.”

While the resolution is technical in nature, experts said that this could constitute a step toward Palestinian statehood.

Mohammad Majadli, a reporter for Mossawa news, thinks that the Palestinians’ assumption of the G-77 leadership gives credence to their claim for full membership in the U.N., and while they currently hold the status of observers, this new role gives them more power to promote procedural motions and cosponsor proposals and amendments that could enhance their status while acting against Israel.

Dr. Hilly Moodrick Even, senior lecturer at the Academic College for Law and Science and an expert in international law, explained that this development has limited significance, but significance that should not be ignored.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been acting in recent years to obtain international recognition for its status as a state at various international venues and bodies, and its assuming of the leadership of the G-77 was another move in that direction, she said.

The move further bolsters the PA’s status at the U.N., and the impressive reception it received at the U.N. is proof of that, Moodrick added.

The PA’s successive diplomatic gains are slowly pushing the world toward recognition of its full statehood. This final stage can be obtained only through the U.N. Security Council, and such a motion is sure to be vetoed by the U.S., but otherwise, they would have achieved statehood long ago, she believes.

The PA’s leadership of the G-77 gives them more diplomatic, but not legal, clout. However, diplomatic success can lead to legal achievements as well, and therefore this latest development should not be belittled, she cautioned.