Ethiopia Abstains on UN Vote for Landmark Palestine Two-State Resolution











Ethiopia’s Latest Move: Abstention on the New York Accord

At the United Nations General Assembly this week, Ethiopia joined a small group of countries that abstained from voting on the resolution endorsing the New York Accord, a France–Saudi Arabia initiative to push forward a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The resolution passed overwhelmingly—142 in favor, 10 against, 12 abstentions—despite sharp objections from Israel and the United States. Washington’s UN ambassador Morgan Ortagus warned it “undermines genuine diplomatic efforts” and “emboldens Hamas,” while Israel’s envoy Danny Danon called it evidence of “a lack of commitment to peace.”

By withholding its vote, Ethiopia signaled neither endorsement nor opposition. Diplomats in Addis Ababa framed the abstention as an effort to balance historic solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the country’s growing strategic ties with Israel and the United States, both key partners in security and technology. The move underscores Ethiopia’s careful diplomacy at a time when it seeks foreign investment and Western backing amid its own internal political challenges.

Ethiopia’s Voting Pattern on Palestine in Recent Years

Ethiopia’s abstention is not an isolated event. Over the past several years, its voting record on Palestine-related resolutions shows a deliberate middle path:

December 2022 – UNGA Resolution on Palestinian self-determination: Ethiopia voted in favor, aligning with the African Union consensus supporting Palestinian statehood.

December 2022 – Resolution requesting an International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation: Ethiopia abstained, reflecting caution over a measure strongly opposed by Israel and the U.S.

May 2021 – Emergency UNGA session on Gaza hostilities: Ethiopia abstained, calling for de-escalation and negotiations without assigning blame.

December 2017 – Resolution rejecting the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital: Ethiopia voted in favor, joining the overwhelming majority that reaffirmed the international consensus on Jerusalem’s status.

This pattern illustrates a dual-track strategy: support for the principle of Palestinian statehood and international law, but reluctance to back measures that could strain strategic relations with Israel and key Western partners.

Strategic Calculations

Ethiopia’s foreign policy is shaped by a blend of factors:

Security cooperation with Israel, particularly in intelligence and technology, which Addis Ababa values amid its own regional security concerns.

Dependence on Western aid and investment, making it sensitive to U.S. positions.

African Union tradition of backing Palestinian statehood, which Ethiopia, as host of the AU headquarters, cannot ignore.

By abstaining on the New York Accord, Ethiopia maintains diplomatic flexibility—keeping doors open to all sides while signaling that it remains committed to dialogue rather than unilateral declarations.

Ethiopia’s Abstention on the “New York Accord” and its Record on Palestine Votes

Ethiopia’s Latest Move: Abstention on the New York Accord

At the United Nations General Assembly this week, Ethiopia joined a small group of countries that abstained from voting on the resolution endorsing the New York Accord, a France–Saudi Arabia initiative to push forward a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The resolution passed overwhelmingly—142 in favor, 10 against, 12 abstentions—despite sharp objections from Israel and the United States. Washington’s UN ambassador Morgan Ortagus warned it “undermines genuine diplomatic efforts” and “emboldens Hamas,” while Israel’s envoy Danny Danon called it evidence of “a lack of commitment to peace.”

By withholding its vote, Ethiopia signaled neither endorsement nor opposition. Diplomats in Addis Ababa framed the abstention as an effort to balance historic solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the country’s growing strategic ties with Israel and the United States, both key partners in security and technology. The move underscores Ethiopia’s careful diplomacy at a time when it seeks foreign investment and Western backing amid its own internal political challenges.

Ethiopia’s Voting Pattern on Palestine in Recent Years

Ethiopia’s abstention is not an isolated event. Over the past several years, its voting record on Palestine-related resolutions shows a deliberate middle path:

December 2022 – UNGA Resolution on Palestinian self-determination: Ethiopia voted in favor, aligning with the African Union consensus supporting Palestinian statehood.

December 2022 – Resolution requesting an International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation: Ethiopia abstained, reflecting caution over a measure strongly opposed by Israel and the U.S.

May 2021 – Emergency UNGA session on Gaza hostilities: Ethiopia abstained, calling for de-escalation and negotiations without assigning blame.

December 2017 – Resolution rejecting the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital: Ethiopia voted in favor, joining the overwhelming majority that reaffirmed the international consensus on Jerusalem’s status.

This pattern illustrates a dual-track strategy: support for the principle of Palestinian statehood and international law, but reluctance to back measures that could strain strategic relations with Israel and key Western partners.

Strategic Calculations

Ethiopia’s foreign policy is shaped by a blend of factors:

Security cooperation with Israel, particularly in intelligence and technology, which Addis Ababa values amid its own regional security concerns.

Dependence on Western aid and investment, making it sensitive to U.S. positions.

African Union tradition of backing Palestinian statehood, which Ethiopia, as host of the AU headquarters, cannot ignore.

By abstaining on the New York Accord, Ethiopia maintains diplomatic flexibility—keeping doors open to all sides while signaling that it remains committed to dialogue rather than unilateral declarations.

Ethiopia’s careful balancing act underscores the complex diplomacy of a country seeking to reconcile historic solidarity with Palestinians and evolving strategic partnerships, a stance that has become a defining feature of its votes on the world stage.