The Palestinian flag, seen here as Palestinians listen to President Mahmoud Abbas as he delivers a speech Sept. 23, 2011, at the General Assembly of the United Nations on a large television screen, in Ramallah, West Bank, will fly among other national flags at the United Nations. File photo by Debbie Hill/UPI |
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NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The State of Palestine, a United Nations observer state since 2012, won the right to fly its flag at UN headquarters and offices alongside the 193 member states.
The symbolic step -- opposed by the United States, Israel and six other member states -- comes before the annual UN meeting of heads of state, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, at the end of September. The vote allows observer states equal status on flagpoles at the UN's New York headquarters.
Although the flag is expected to first be raised in conjunction with Abbas' visit, the Vatican, the only other UN observer state, said it has no plans to raise a flag when Pope Francis visits.
The resolution was approved in the General Assembly by a vote of 119 to eight, with 45 abstentions. Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Tuvalu and the United States voted against the measure.
While purely symbolic, it is part of an effort by the Palestinian Authority to gain international recognition as a formal state on land seized or controlled by Israel since 1967.
"Today's vote is a reaffirmation of the legitimacy of the national aspirations of the Palestinian people, of their existence among the nations of the world and their right to self-determination," Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad H. Mansour said after the vote.
The Israeli ambassador, Ron Prosor, was more distrustful.
"Make no mistake, the goal of this resolution is a photo op. The Palestinians want to bring together world dignitaries and the media to gather around and watch as Mahmoud Abbas raises a flag. They plan to use the prestige of the UN as a backdrop for this charade ... the sad part is that you allow them to get away with it. You must make it clear to the Palestinians that the only way to achieve statehood is through direct negotiations. As long as the Palestinians believe they can achieve their political goals without making concessions, they will continue to avoid taking the difficult decisions needed for peace."
