The resolution – introduced by Palestine – allows non-member observer states – in effect Palestine and The Vatican – to raise their flags over the United Nations building.
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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will tell the United Nations General Assembly at its meeting later this month that it is not bound by the Oslo Accords since Israel has not abided by them, PLO Executive Committee member Ahmad Majdalani told the Palestinian Maan news agency.
The resolution says observer states’ flags will be flown within 20 days.
In late 2012, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly, 138 in favor and nine against, to upgrade the Palestinians’ status at the U.N.to non-member observer state. “I look forward to seeing the image of an Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian leader standing side by side, raising the flags of our two peoples, living together in peace”.
The Palestinians’ supporters had hoped that no nation would block the proposal and risk offending the Vatican on the eve of Pope Francis’ first U.S. and U.N. visit.
French ambassador Francois Delattre stated that “this flag is a powerful symbol, a glimmer of hope”, for the Palestinians amid broken-down peace talks.
The United Nations says it will be guided by Thursday’s non-binding vote.
Talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators ground to a halt one year ago over the self-proclaimed Jewish state’s refusal to release a group of Palestinian prisoners despite earlier promises to do so. But the Holy See asked that it not be named in the resolution. The flags would join those of the U.N.’s 193 member states outside the world body’s headquarters.
The Vatican has distanced itself from the resolution.
The Vatican said it would abide by the decision of the General Assembly, but it also noted that the tradition at the United Nations was to fly the flags of full members.
Israel has urged member states to oppose the Palestinian draft resolution.
After the vote, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said the “historic” vote constitutes the information of the global community in support of a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine.
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European nations were divided on the move with France and Sweden voting in favour while others such as Germany, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands and Cyprus abstained.
