The Malta mission, which holds the permanent presidency of the UN Security Council, announced that the Council will hold a closed session on Monday, April 8, to discuss Palestine’s request to resume consideration of its admission as a member of the United Nations.

The mission, which assumes the presidency of the Security Council in April, said: “At 10:00, consultations will be held to discuss the Palestinian request to resume consideration of its application for membership in the United Nations.”

Palestine has permanent observer status in the United Nations.

An application for full membership in the United Nations must obtain the approval of the UN Security Council, in which the United States can use its veto power, and then the approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the 193-member General Assembly.

A Security Council committee considered the Palestinian application in 2011 for a few weeks, but the committee did not reach a unanimous position and the council never voted on a resolution recommending Palestinian membership.

Diplomats said at the time that the Palestinians did not receive enough support in the Security Council to make the United States need to use its veto.