How the Security Council
May Vote on Palestine

By OBSERVER

The article 27, Section 3, of the Charter of the United Nations says that the decisions of the Security Council should be made “by an affirmative vote of seven members including the concurring votes of the permanent members” provided that “a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.”

The Security Council consists of 11 members, five of which are permanent members—the Big Five—and each of these five must vote affirmatively in order that a decision should be reached—which is known as the veto power. Six other members are elected from among other nations.

The United Kingdom is a part of the Palestinian dispute because it was accused by the Palestine Committee of the United Nations with obstructing the implementation of the decision of the General Assembly of Nov. 29; because it bears the entire financial budget of the Arab Legion and directs its action through the Defense Board established by the treaty between the United Kingdom and Transjordan in March of this year; because it supplied arms to the armies of the Arab states which invaded Palestine.

Since the United Kingdom is a party in the dispute only four out of the Big Five may vote on the Palestine conflict in the Security Council. Not being entitled to vote the United Kingdom cannot exercise its veto power.

Also the Syrian delegate in the Security Council has no right to vote on the Palestine conflict. Like the United Kingdom, Syria participates in the fighting in Palestine.