Palestine just shook things up at the United Nations. Its permanent observer to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, is running for president of the U.N. General Assembly in the 2026-2027 session, backed by all 22 Arab countries. The catch? Palestine isn’t a full U.N. member — and the U.S. will not be thrilled.
The role rotates by region, and it’s Asia-Pacific’s turn. With Bangladesh and Cyprus stepping aside, Mansour might run unopposed, writes Devex Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch. The Arab Group delayed nominating him earlier this year to avoid angering Washington. But after Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza, support rallied.
There’s a big legal snag: U.S. law cuts funding to U.N. bodies that recognize Palestine as a state. In 2024, the U.N. General Assembly expanded Palestine’s rights — but the U.S. blocked full membership.
Former U.S. envoy Robert Wood didn’t mince words and questioned whether Palestine has the legal status to serve as U.N. General Assembly president. “Why they are doing it, I don’t know,” Wood said. “They may be trying to get this administration to respond in some way. That is not advisable.”
Meanwhile, incoming U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Elise Stefanik calls the U.N. a “den of antisemitism.”
Another diplomat warns: “We have seen this on numerous occasions, the Palestinians take steps they believe are going to win them support ... and it continually backfires.”
The legal question of Palestine’s eligibility to run for U.N. General Assembly president remains unresolved, but Secretary-General António Guterres interpreted a May 2024 resolution to mean that while Palestine cannot vote, its delegate “may be elected as President.”
U.N. officials are rattled. One simply texts:
.
Exclusive: Palestinians launch bid for UN General Assembly presidency
The role rotates by region, and it’s Asia-Pacific’s turn. With Bangladesh and Cyprus stepping aside, Mansour might run unopposed, writes Devex Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch. The Arab Group delayed nominating him earlier this year to avoid angering Washington. But after Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza, support rallied.
There’s a big legal snag: U.S. law cuts funding to U.N. bodies that recognize Palestine as a state. In 2024, the U.N. General Assembly expanded Palestine’s rights — but the U.S. blocked full membership.
Former U.S. envoy Robert Wood didn’t mince words and questioned whether Palestine has the legal status to serve as U.N. General Assembly president. “Why they are doing it, I don’t know,” Wood said. “They may be trying to get this administration to respond in some way. That is not advisable.”
Meanwhile, incoming U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Elise Stefanik calls the U.N. a “den of antisemitism.”
Another diplomat warns: “We have seen this on numerous occasions, the Palestinians take steps they believe are going to win them support ... and it continually backfires.”
The legal question of Palestine’s eligibility to run for U.N. General Assembly president remains unresolved, but Secretary-General António Guterres interpreted a May 2024 resolution to mean that while Palestine cannot vote, its delegate “may be elected as President.”
U.N. officials are rattled. One simply texts:
.Exclusive: Palestinians launch bid for UN General Assembly presidency