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<h1 class="article-title">UN General Assembly Votes For Raising
Palestinian Flag</h1>
<div class="article-subtitledetails">
<span class="article-details">
<span class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part1.08090101.04060607@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> Friday September 11, 2015 <b><small><small><small><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.imemc.org/article/72981">http://www.imemc.org/article/72981</a></small></small></small></b></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="article-intro">The United Nations General
Assembly voted, Thursday, in an overwhelming majority for raising
the Palestinian flag at the United Nations, despite aggressive
opposition led by the United States and Israel.</blockquote>
The UN proposal achieved 119 votes out of the 193 UN member states,
while only eight countries, headed by the United States and Israel,
voted against it.<br>
<br>
The resolution states that flags of all non-member observer states,
including Palestine, "shall be raised at the UN headquarters, and
United Nations offices, followed by flags of member states."<br>
<br>
45 countries, including most of the countries of the European Union,
abstained.<br>
<br>
Sweden, Italy, France, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Malta, Poland,
Luxembourg and Belgium, of the European Union, voted for the
Palestinian resolution.<br>
<br>
Germany, Finland, The Netherlands, Austria and Cyprus where among
the abstaining European countries.<br>
<br>
Among world countries that voted in favor of the Palestinians are
Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Cuba, Chad, Salvador, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Mali, Niger, Pakistan and Turkey.<br>
<br>
The approved resolution is based on the November 2012 General
Assembly vote that recognized Palestine as a "nonmember observer
state," but did not lead to raising the Palestinian flag inside the
UN in New York, or even on its outside plaza.<br>
<br>
Prior to the vote, ambassadors of various countries delivered
speeches in support of the legitimate Palestinian rights, while the
United States said it would vote against the resolution.<br>
<br>
The U.S. said "the vote against this resolution does not mean the
U.S ignores the Palestinian rights", according to the American
statement.<br>
<br>
The resolution states that nonmember states that carry observer
statuses can have their flags raised in the UN, its offices, and can
have diplomatic missions at the UN headquarters.<br>
<br>
It grants the UN Secretary General twenty days to ensure its
implementation; Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be visiting
the UN on September 30.<br>
<br>
"This move is symbolic, but it is a step forwards to solidify the
pillars of the Palestinian State in the international arena," Riyad
Mansour, permanent Observer for the State of Palestine to the United
Nations in New York, said.<br>
<br>
Mansour added that the move would potentially give the Palestinians
some hope that the International Community has not abandoned them,
and supports their legitimate rights of statehood and independence.<br>
<br>
"This resolution is like a small candle of hope to the Palestinian
People," he stated.<br>
<br>
The Palestinian official also said the current situation in
Palestine is gloomy, while the Gaza Strip continues to suffocate
under Israeli siege and ongoing aggression.
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