General Assembly Vote Lets Palestinians Fly Flag at U.N. Headquarters

[Purveyor]

Source: New York Times

UNITED NATIONS — Palestinians overwhelmingly won the right on Thursday to fly their national flag in front of United Nations headquarters, a symbolic step of legitimacy opposed by Israel and the United States.

The change was made by the United Nations General Assembly, when a vast majority of member countries voted in favor of a resolution granting what are known as nonmember observer states the right to fly their flags alongside member states.

Palestine became an observer state in November 2012. The Vatican, the only other observer state, has held that status since 1964.

Palestinian diplomats secured the support of a majority of the assembly, as was expected, with 119 countries voting in favor of the resolution, eight voting against it and 45 abstaining.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/world/middleeast/general-assemblyvote-lets-palestinians-fly-flag-at-un-headquarters.html?_r=0

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[Jack Rabbit]

1. Congratulations, Palestinians

[Chasstev365]

2. It's About Time!

The Israeli government should know that much of the rest of the world believes that Palestinians are humans who deserve rights and dignity like everyone else whether they like it or not!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

9. They try to portray them as dogs.

We know better!

[oberliner]

3. Thank you Obama administration for voting against this nonsense

The United States ambassador, Samantha Power, in explaining her no vote, said that raising the flag “is not an alternative to negotiations and will not bring the parties closer to peace.”

Well said.

[geek tragedy]

7. Lol. the United States is one of the principal barriers

to a Palestinian state.

Only Israel itself has done more to prevent one from existing.

[happyslug]

8. So you opposed to the Vatican flying its flag at the UN???

Remember that was the actual rule, did countries who are NOT members of the UN but have observer status have their flags flown at the UN. Thus the US OPPOSED the Vatican Flying its Flag. Thus how is DENYING the Vatican the right to fly its flag interfering with negotiations?

[TubbersUK]

4. Good n/t

[David__77]

5. Voting Record...

Here is a link to a lot of quotes from different countries' delegates: http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/ga11676.doc.htm

[LeftOfWest]

6. So glad! Congratulations Palestinians!

Past time.