CAIRO- The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh has said he looks forward to welcoming Palestine as a full member of the United Nations (UN) on Saturday. The Palestinian bid for UN membership was officially made last Friday, and the UN Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to convene on Monday to discuss the bid. “India is steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people's struggle for a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Singh told the UN General Assembly. “[Palestinians] should live within secure and recognizable borders side by side and at peace with Israel,” he added, calling the Palestinian issue “a source of great instability and violence.” The UNSC is comprised of 15 members, five of which are permanent and carry a veto. India is one of the 10 non-permanent members currently serving. For the bid to pass, Palestine must win 9 of the 15 votes but the Unites States of America has already promised they would veto any bid made through the UNSC, and even then Palestine has yet to garner official support from 9 members. In light of this, Singh has also called for the UN and its main bodies to be “revitalized and reformed.” “The reform and expansion of the Security Council are essential if it is to reflect contemporary reality,” Singh added. “Early reform of the Security Council must be pursued with renewed vigor and urgently enacted,” in order to boost the UN's “credibility and effectiveness.” India has been seeking a more permanent position within the UNSC, either as a nation or within the Asia region to reflect the growing position of the overpopulated powerhouse in the world stage. Leading Fatah official, Assam al-Ahmad has called for the Palestinian bid to be decided within a fortnight “Palestinians will wait two weeks for Security Council to consider application for membership,” al-Ahmad told the Maan news agency on Saturday.
