Winning their bid for full membership at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is a great victory for the Palestinians. The importance of this is not confined to the membership per se. Rather, it should be seen within its wider context of its importance and immediacy in giving Palestinians their basic rights.
Palestine has become the 195th full member at Unesco with 107 votes in its favour. This has been achieved following vigorous campaigns by the Palestinians as well as other supporting countries. "This vote will help erase a tiny part of the injustice done to the Palestinian people," said Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al Maliki.
Yet this vote has not come without a price given that the US opposed the decision and consequently announced its withdrawal of funding to the organisation. If anything, the US decision indicates how isolated the administration's position is when it comes to all matters pertaining to the Palestinians.
The general trend worldwide is one that supports people gaining their rights and freedom. And if any group of people deserve any recognition, it would be the Palestinians as their rights have been ignored, abused, and discriminated against for decades. Hence, the vote to enter Unesco symbolises a small yet important step towards recognition and independence.
It is within this context that all those countries that have stood against Palestine's entry to Unesco can only be viewed as biased and discriminatory. It is a fact that Palestinians are still living either under occupation or as refugees — and this is one fact that cannot be ignored or sidelined.
Hence, the next step for the Palestinians and their supporters is to follow in the same direction that would lead to similar recognition.
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