Riyad Mansour Image by Getty Images

The biggest bloc of developing countries, known as Group of 77, at the United Nations has chosen the observer state of Palestine as its next leader, The New York Times reported.

Palestine would take over leadership of the bloc starting in January. The bloc often speaks as one voice in the General Assembly and represents more than 80 percent of the world’s population.

The choice of Palestine as the leader of the bloc is likely to raise tensions between Israel and the United States. Palestine will be negotiating on the behalf of 135 countries, allowing this to become their political advance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“We walk like a state. We quack like a state. Therefore we are a state,” said Riyad H. Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador.

Israel and the United States maintain that that Palestine is not an independent country, but there is nothing they can do to keep Palestine from taking this leadership position come January. Strongly opposed, Israeli ambassador Danny Danon said the Palestinians will use the position to “spread lies and incitement.”

Mansour says Israel continues to deny “we are a state, but we are.”

“Actions speak louder than words,” said Mansour. “Palestine will continue to take steps towards gaining its statehood.”

Contact Aisha Tahir at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aishatahir

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. We’re near the end of our Passover Fundraising Drive, and we have a very ambitious goal of $127,000 by April 21.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a Passover gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Make a Passover Gift Today!

$90 $180

$360

Other amount