Abbas Calls on Germany to Support Palestine's Full UN Membership

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, shake hands after a press conference after their talks in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug.16, 2022. (AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, shake hands after a press conference after their talks in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug.16, 2022. (AP)
TT
20

Abbas Calls on Germany to Support Palestine's Full UN Membership

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, shake hands after a press conference after their talks in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug.16, 2022. (AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, shake hands after a press conference after their talks in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Aug.16, 2022. (AP)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to recognize the Palestinian state and support its full membership in the United Nations.

Abbas met with Scholz in Berlin after arriving on an official visit to discuss bilateral relations, recent developments in the Palestinian territories, and the future of the political process.

The Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) said Abbas briefed the chancellor on Israeli violations against the Palestinian people, their Islamic and Christian properties and sanctities, and the unprecedented settlement acceleration and seizure of land.

They reviewed recent regional political developments and efforts to revive the peace process.

The meeting also discussed ways to protect the two-state solution by calling on the international community to stop the Israeli violations and recognize the state of Palestine and its full membership in the UN.

On Monday, Abbas arrived in the German capital as part of a Palestinian drive to obtain full UN membership.

Palestinian officials resorted to this option after efforts to advance a regional political process had failed.

It is also part of the political options discussed by the Palestinian leadership to confront Israeli crimes, including withdrawing recognition of Israel.

Palestine has been an observer member of the UN since November 29, 2012, but according to the UN Charter, obtaining full membership requires a Security Council resolution with the approval of nine member states, provided that none of the veto-holder states object.

Meanwhile, Permanent Representative of Palestine to the UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour announced the resumption of intense contacts and efforts with various UN delegations regarding Palestine's right to obtain full membership.

In an interview with "Voice of Palestine" radio, Mansour said a meeting would be held on Wednesday with the Non-Aligned Movement in the Security Council to discuss the initiative to accept Palestine as a full member state.

He noted that a Security Council meeting, chaired by China, will be held on August 26 to discuss the developments in the Palestinian territories.

Palestine is also preparing to participate in the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, said Mansour.



Yemen’s Houthis Say Response to US Attack on Iran 'Only a Matter of Time'

Houthi supporters gather near paintings depicting late military and political figures of Iran-backed groups of Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq on display on a fence during a protest against the Israeli airstrikes on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters gather near paintings depicting late military and political figures of Iran-backed groups of Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq on display on a fence during a protest against the Israeli airstrikes on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
TT
20

Yemen’s Houthis Say Response to US Attack on Iran 'Only a Matter of Time'

Houthi supporters gather near paintings depicting late military and political figures of Iran-backed groups of Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq on display on a fence during a protest against the Israeli airstrikes on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters gather near paintings depicting late military and political figures of Iran-backed groups of Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq on display on a fence during a protest against the Israeli airstrikes on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, 20 June 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

The Houthi militias in Yemen vowed on Sunday to support Iran in its fight against “the Zionist and American aggression.”

Their statement called for the Muslim nations to join the holy war and act as “one front against the Zionist-American arrogance.”

The US military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel’s effort to decapitating Iran's nuclear program.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, also said that its ceasefire deal with Washington was before the "war" on Iran.

The group has been launching attacks on shipping lanes and Israel in what it says is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israeli war. It agreed on a ceasefire deal with the United States in May to stop attacking US ships in exchange for an end to Washington's bombings of the group.

Al-Bukhaiti added that the Iran-aligned group's response to the US attack on Iran was "only a matter of time.”

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel since Israel launched a surprise attack on its military and nuclear facilities last week. Israel’s sophisticated air defenses are able to shoot down most but not all of the missiles and drones.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations called on Sunday for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as America's “heinous attacks and illegal use of force” against Iran.