Author(s)
Patricia O'Brien, Legal Counsel, United Nations, USG for Legal Affairs
Note
This is the confidential internal memo that the UN's legal adviser wrote stating that "Palestine" was a state and legally entitled to ratify treaties. "Palestine would be able to become party to any treaties that are open to "any State" or "all States" ("all States" formula treaties) deposited with the Secretary-General."
Notwithstanding that this highly influential memo set the stage for "Palestine" to ratify the ICC Statute, and many other treaties, and for the Secretary-General and other depository entities to accept such moves, the opinion has never been issued as an official UN document.