{"id":17384,"date":"2026-09-27T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=17384"},"modified":"2026-09-26T23:06:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T04:06:52","slug":"despite-152-votes-in-favor-panama-opts-for-abstention-in-the-un-vote-on-palestine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/despite-152-votes-in-favor-panama-opts-for-abstention-in-the-un-vote-on-palestine\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite 152 votes in favor, Panama opts for abstention in the UN vote on Palestine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panama was one of four nations to abstain from a United Nations General Assembly vote<\/a> authorizing virtual participation<\/a> for Palestinian officials<\/a> during the 81st session. The resolution passed overwhelmingly with 152 votes in favor, three against, and four abstentions, according to official UN records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The measure, adopted as Resolution A RES 81 1, allows Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior officials to participate via videoconference or prerecorded messages when unable to travel to UN headquarters in New York. Colombia, Honduras, and Peru joined Panama in abstaining, while the United States, Israel, and Paraguay cast the only opposing votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UN
The resolution did not address Palestinian statehood recognition or full UN membership. Adam Gray AFP via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Panama Abstention Vote<\/a> Breaks From Regional Majority<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fifteen of 20 Latin American countries backed the resolution, making Panama’s position notable within the region. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, and ten other nations voted in favor. Paraguay stood alone as the only Latin American country to vote against the measure alongside the United States and Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resolution did not address Palestinian statehood recognition or full UN membership. Its scope remained limited to ensuring remote participation when US visa denials prevent Palestinian officials from attending in person. The initiative emerged after Washington again denied visas to Abbas and other delegation members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Votaci\u00f3n ONU \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8
Permitir a Palestina participar de la Asamblea de las Naciones Unidas pic.twitter.com\/DuAJWlJVL0<\/a><\/p>— BlackMaps \ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f (@maps_black) September 20, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>