UN VOTES TO GRANT PALESTINE NON-MEMBER OBSERVER STATUS

The UN has voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting Palestine non-member observer status- 138 in favor, 9 against, 41 abstentions. Israel had threatened before the vote to retailed with financial penalties if the vote was passed.

The move in effect recognises Palestinian statehood, and will give them access to a number of different bodies, like the International Criminal Court.

Before the vote Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had told the General Assembly that it “is being asked today to issue the birth certificate of Palestine.”

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