UNITED NATIONS: Palestine accomplished a landmark achievement on Wednesday when its flag fluttered free for the first time at the United Nations (UN) after the UN General Assembly (UNGA) voted earlier this month to recognise the territory occupied by Israel as a state.
The move was passed with 119 votes in favour, while 45 countries abstained and eight voted against, among them Israel and the US.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas present on the occasion took this opportunity to ask the world body the need to give Palestine full membership.
In 2012, the UNGA had recognised Palestine as a non-member observer state, a position also held by the Vatican. That followed a failed push for full member state status a year earlier.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon said: ‘this is a day of pride for Palestinians around the world. It is a day of hope. It’s a reminder that symbols are important,’ he said. ‘May the raising of this flag give rise to the hope among the Palestinians and the international community that Palestinian statehood is achievable.’
‘In this historical moment, I say to my people everywhere: raise the flag of Palestinians very high because it is the symbol of our identity,’ the 80-year-old Abbas told the crowd. ‘It is a proud day.’
