10 Countries Who Reject Independence of Palestine
Palestine issue was discussed in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York in September 2025, a landmark resolution often called the New York Declaration was put to vote.
It proposed “concrete, timebound, and irreversible” steps toward a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, but 10 countries voted against it. (SINDOnews International)
Who Voted “No” for Palestine?
According to multiple reports, the 10 countries that opposed the resolution are:
- United States
- Israel
- Argentina
- Hungary
- Micronesia
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Tonga (Newsweek)
These votes reflect a mix of geopolitical alignments, diplomatic pressures, and national foreign policy stances.
Reasons Behind the Opposition
1. U.S. and Israel: As long-standing allies, the United States and Israel have consistently argued that such resolutions oversimplify the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The U.S. viewed the New York Declaration as “a misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt.” Israel, for its part, dismissed the resolution as ‘theater’ and accused the UN of one-sided bias. (Reuters)
2. Argentina: Argentina had recognized Palestine in prior years, but under its new government policy, it positioned itself differently. As Infobae reported, Argentina “voted against” the resolution in 2025 after shifting its stance on Palestinian recognition.
3. Hungary: Hungary, under Viktor Orbán’s government, has in recent years aligned more closely with Israeli interests, emphasizing concerns over security and national sovereignty in its foreign policy rhetoric.
4–10. Smaller states (Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga): These Pacific and Pacific-Rim or small island states often vote in alignment with the U.S. or Western bloc due to diplomatic, aid, or strategic ties.
While the opposition was small in number, the symbolism is powerful: these votes signified diplomatic rifts in what is often seen as a near-consensus on Palestine in multilateral forums.
Indonesia’s Position and Reaction
Indonesia, an ardent supporter of Palestinian statehood, welcomed the resolution and reaffirmed its diplomatic posture. In his UN remarks, President Prabowo Subianto reiterated that Indonesia will support Palestinian statehood and linked recognition of Israel to Israel’s recognition of Palestine.
From the Indonesian media sphere, commentaries emerged. For example, Sindonews published an op-ed by Ridwan al-Makassary, a social sciences professor, warning that despite widespread recognition momentum, “some countries still resist international pressure, betraying the urgency of justice for Palestine.” (Sindonews)
Though I did not locate a direct quote on this specific vote from iNews.id in this round of research, iNews often mirrors national discourse critical of foreign governments that reject pro-Palestinian resolutions. If needed, I can dig further to find an iNews political figure statement and incorporate it for your article.
Implications of the No-Votes
- Diplomatic isolation: The 10 no-voters risk being viewed as isolated on this issue, especially given that 142 countries supported the resolution and only 12 abstained. (SINDOnews International)
- Legitimacy and momentum: The broad affirmative vote reinforces the narrative that the global majority supports a Palestinian state.
- Political signaling: The no votes serve as a statement: they are not bound to the Arab or Muslim bloc in this matter and may prioritize bilateral relationships (with Israel, U.S.) or internal policy constraints.
- Pressure and critiques: These countries may face critiques from civil society, political opponents, and international observers for rejecting what many view as a progressive step toward peace.
Conclusion
In September 2025, while most of the world rallied behind the New York Declaration endorsing a two-state path, ten nations stood apart in dissent. Their votes eloquently underscore how divergent foreign policy priorities, alliance systems, and internal politics shape positions on even widely backed multilateral resolutions.
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