Algeria's Tebboune calls for UN vote on granting Palestine full membership

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Tuesday called for a special session to be held at the UN on conducting a vote granting full membership to Palestine.

Tebboune’s call came as during a speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he addressed a number of issues, including the Palestinian cause, the Turkish Anadolu agency reported.

In his speech, the Algerian president emphasised the North African country’s support for the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which conditions diplomatic relations with Israel on a withdrawal from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, making way for an independent Palestinian state.

Several Arab countries, however, normalised ties with Israel in 2020 despite its ongoing occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Tebboune also urged the UN Security Council to pass a resolution for a two-state solution, while adding that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is a key source of regional instability.

He also criticised the Security Council.

"Reforms are also needed in the Security Council, which has been weak in fulfilling its duty to maintain international peace and security and in preventing the use of force," the Algerian leader said

Algeria has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause since its independence from France in 1962, and has provided the Palestinian people with financial support and solidarity on the world stage on a number of occasions.

In July this year, Algiers pledged a package worth $30 million for the reconstruction of Jenin in the West Bank, after it suffered from a number of violent Israeli raids which have killed scores of Palestinians. Many buildings in the city were destroyed following the military incursions.

Amid Arab normalisation of ties with Israel in recent years, Algeria has insisted that "the Palestinian issue is the mother of all causes."

Palestine has been a non-member observer state of the UN General Assembly since 2012. Prior to that year, Palestine was considered "an observer entity" at the world body.