Palestinians celebrate UN statehood vote

The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to recognize a Palestinian state with non-member observer status.

There was jubiliation on the floor of the assembly after the resolution was approved Thursday by a vote of 138-to-9, with 41 nations abstaining.

A Palestinian flag was quickly unfurled on the floor of the General Assembly, behind the Palestinian delegation.

As the votes were cast, there was silence among the thousands gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah, which erupted with cheers of joy and chants of “God is greatest” when approval was announced.

There were celebrations in cities across the West Bank, as well as in Gaza, where the Hamas government, which runs the enclave, offered tepid support for the bid and allowed backers to express their solidarity with the move.

In Bethlehem, fireworks were shot into the night sky, and churches rang their bells at midnight to mark the occasion.

The new status is an indirect recognition of the Palestinians’ claims on statehood in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. It allows them to join a number of UN agencies, as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC).

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the vote underscores the urgency for a resumption of meaningful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He urged both sides to renew their commitment to a negotiated peace.

Immediately after the results were announced, US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice branded the move “counter-productive”, and the state department warned the status change could lead to a reduction of US economic support for the Palestinians.

“Today’s unfortunate and counter-productive resolution places further obstacles in the path to peace. That is why the United States voted against it,” Rice said.

The diplomatic upgrade by the U.N. General Assembly will allow the Palestinian Authority access to key U.N. agencies, like the International Criminal Court.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told the General Assembly ahead of Thursday’s vote that raising U.N. status for the Palestinians is the last chance to save a two-state solution. He said the Assembly