After 65 years after passing the Partition Plan for Palestine, the General Assembly voted by a huge majority to recognize Palestine within the 1967 borders as a non-member state with observer status in the organization. In the historic session of the United Nations in New York, some 138 countries voted in favor of the resolution, 41 abstained, while 9 voted against. (Source)
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas delivered an intense speech in which he was highly critical of Israel and received massive applause from the floor. He said, “Palestine comes today to the General Assembly because it believes in peace and because its people, as proven in the past days, are in desperate need of it”. He added, “the moment has arrived for the world to say clearly: Enough of the aggression, settlements and occupation”. (Source)
While Mr Abbas argued the vote could create peace and tranquility among Palestinians, the U.S. and Israel (who voted against) denounced the decision.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said “Today’s unfortunate and counterproductive resolution places further obstacles to peace”.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the vote, which he feels is an empty gesture that makes very little difference for Palestinians, and makes peace prospects more remote.
“The decision at the U.N. today won’t change a thing on the ground,” he said. Netanyahu added “It doesn’t matter how many hands will be raised against it, there is no force int he world that would cause me to compromise Israel’s security”. (Source)
Meanwhile in Ramallah, the crowd waves flags and supporters of Abbas danced to festive music with lyrics waxing nostalgic Fatah’s history as an armed militia.
