Palestinian flag raised outside UN headquarters

The Palestinian Authority raised its flag at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the first time on Wednesday.

The UN General Assembly earlier this month voted 119 to 8, with 45 abstentions, to allow its two non-member states – Palestine and the Holy See – to fly their flags in front of UN buildings along with those of member states.

The Palestinian flag was raised for the first time just after PA President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN, as he does annually, during the opening of its 70th General Assembly.

Raising the Palestinian flag at the UN is a symbolic gesture. The UN has not accepted Palestine as a member state.

Ban Ki-moon spoke at the ceremony, praising Palestine for the achievement.

Abbas said that "the day for raising the flag on top of Jerusalem, capital of the Palestinian state, will be coming soon."

Israel had opposed the UN resolution to allow the Palestinians to raise their flag at the world body, arguing that it granted the Palestinians a diplomatic achievement outside of the framework of negotiations.