UN General Assembly has passed a Palestinian resolution to allow its flag fly in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, angering Israel and giving hope to Palestinians seeking full UN membership.
The resolution stated that flags of non-member observer states like Palestine “shall be raised at [UN] Headquarters [in New York] and United Nations Offices following the flags of the member states.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah told reporters that he strongly believes this marks another step towards recognition of Palestinian statehood, RT reported.
“It’s a step to the recognition of Palestine as a full member state of the United Nations,” Hamdallah said in Paris.
Palestinian diplomats would like to see the flag raised on September 30, marking the day when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed world leaders at the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly.
Israel criticized the UN’s decision, claiming the international body is biased toward Palestinians.
“The assembly would vote to declare the Earth is flat if the Palestinians proposed it,” Israel’s UN Ambassador Ron Prosor said.
At the same time, US Ambassador Samantha Power expressed concern that flying the flag at the UN will only create more tension between Israelis and Palestinians.
The occupied Palestinian territories have been seeking full independence from Israel for decades, with Palestinians demanding full recognition as a sovereign state from the UN and the international community.
