The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution Thursday allowing the Palestinians and the Holy See to raise their flags at UN headquarters ─ a symbolic step pursued by the Palestinians in their quest for an independent state.
Israel strongly objected to the proposal and joined seven other countries, including the United States, in voting “no”; 119 nations voted “yes” and 45 abstained.
Canada, Australia and several small island states also voted “no”. Europe was divided with France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Poland among those voting “yes” while Britain, Germany, the Baltic states and others abstained.
The resolution allows non-member observer states to raise their flags alongside those of the 193 UN member states. The Palestinians and the Vatican are the only two observers, but the Holy See has backed away from the effort, saying it will not raise its flag before Pope Francis visits the UN later this month.