Palestine UN status upgrade ineffective in IMF membership: Spokeswoman

The fund’s spokeswoman Wafa Amr said on Friday that the United Nations recognition "by itself has no direct effect on a possible application for membership of the IMF."

On Thursday, the 193-member assembly voted 138-9 with 41 abstentions at the UN headquarters in New York for a resolution approving the upgrade.

    Having earned the observer non-member status, Palestinians enjoy access to UN agencies and the International Criminal Court where they could file complaints against Israel. The upgrade also allows the Palestinians to participate in debates at the UN and improve their chances of joining UN agencies.


This is while Amr stated that the IMF “has its own procedures for determining membership, which include the requirement that Fund members representing a majority of the Fund's voting power recognize the applicant to the Fund as a 'country'."

As one of the IMF members with a large voting power in the international institution, the US should support the membership of the Palestinian state in the fund. However, America was among the nine countries that voted against the resolution to upgrade Palestine’s status at the UN.

Washington also blocked Palestine’s full membership bid at the UN Security Council in 2011, using its veto power.

By becoming a member of the IMF, Palestinians will be able to receive financial advice and support from the international institution.