KEYIR NEWS - In a decisive vote at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday evening, Ethiopia abstained from supporting a resolution that called for a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
The motion, which was adopted with an overwhelming majority of 142 member states in favour, urged “concrete, time-bound and irreversible steps” towards the long-elusive establishment of two sovereign states.
Twelve countries, including Ethiopia, India, South Sudan, and a handful of others, withheld their support by abstaining, while the United States and Israel stood firmly opposed, rejecting both the content and the timing of the resolution.
For the first time in its history, the General Assembly resolution explicitly condemned Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, setting off the most recent escalation of violence in Gaza.
The motion underscored that Hamas’ actions had undermined prospects for peace while simultaneously affirming the urgent need for a viable Palestinian state to exist alongside Israel.
Diplomatic observers described the resolution as “symbolic yet consequential,” noting that although it is non-binding, it adds mounting international pressure on both sides to return to negotiations.
It also places added scrutiny on those countries, like Ethiopia, that refrained from aligning with the global majority.
Ethiopia offered no immediate explanation for its abstention. Analysts suggest that Addis Ababa’s cautious position may stem from a combination of its longstanding ties with Israel, its deepening engagement with Arab and Gulf states, and its own domestic political sensitivities, which often shape its voting behaviour at the UN.
The timing of the resolution carries added significance. Britain, France, Belgium, Canada and Australia are preparing to formally recognise Palestine as a state later this month, an unprecedented wave of recognition from Western powers that could alter the diplomatic landscape.
If realised, the move would mark a turning point in international recognition efforts, which have thus far been led primarily by developing countries and blocs such as the Arab League and the African Union.
The United States dismissed the UN resolution as “counterproductive,” with Washington insisting that the two-state solution can only emerge through direct negotiations between the parties.
Israel’s representative denounced the measure as “an affront to peace,” accusing the UN of ignoring Israel’s security concerns while legitimising Palestinian political aspirations.
Palestinian officials, however, welcomed the outcome as a long-awaited affirmation of their national rights. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, hailed the resolution as “a powerful statement of the world’s commitment to justice and self-determination.”
He added that while non-binding, the vote reinforced the moral and political case for Palestinian statehood.
As the conflict in Gaza grinds on, with devastating humanitarian consequences, the General Assembly’s vote reflects the international community’s growing impatience with the status quo.
Yet with Israel and the United States standing in opposition, and countries such as Ethiopia choosing strategic abstention, the path towards an enforceable two-state solution remains as uncertain as ever.
By John Apaya