UN General Assembly meeting on Palestine
The UN General Assembly is meeting on a resolution that would upgrade the status of Palestine
-
Q&A: What's all the fuss about a Palestinian U.N. upgrade?
The Palestinian Authority is currently considered an "entity," not a state at the United Nations. If the resolution is approved by the U.N. General Assembly as expected, that status will change to "non-member state," like the Vatican.
Switzerland also had non-member state status until it joined the United Nations as a full voting member 10 years ago.
Recognition as a non-member state will have a certain symbolic value, giving the Palestinians a higher profile in terms of speaking order during U.N. meetings. But they will still be unable to vote during General Assembly sessions.
The change will also have important legal implications.
The Palestinians will be able to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) and some specialized U.N. bodies like the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Read on... (By Louis Charbonneau) -
Just to be clear : #UN vote DOES NOT create a Palestinian state. Only changes status at #UN from "observer entity" to "observer state"by karimlebhour via twitter 11/29/2012 8:06:48 PM -
-
Palestinians turn to U.N. for state recognition
The U.N. General Assembly is set to approve an implicit recognition of Palestinian statehood on Thursday despite threats by the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian Authority by withholding funds for the West Bank government.
A resolution that would lift the Palestinian Authority's U.N. observer status from "entity" to "non-member state," like the Vatican, is expected to pass easily in the 193-nation General Assembly. At least 15 European states plan to vote for it.
Israel, the United States and a handful of other members are set to vote against what they see as a largely symbolic and counterproductive move by the Palestinians, which takes place on the 65th anniversary of the assembly's adoption of resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.
Granting Palestinians the title of "non-member observer state" falls short of full U.N. membership - something the Palestinians failed to achieve last year. But it would allow them access to the International Criminal Court and other international bodies, should they choose to join them.
Read on... (By Louis Charbonneau) -
Palestinians hold a banner during a rally in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, supporting the resolution that would change the Palestinian Authority's United Nations observer status from "entity" to "non-member state" November 29, 2012. The U.N. General Assembly is set to implicitly recognize a sovereign state of Palestine on Thursday despite threats by the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian Authority by withholding much-needed funds for the West Bank government. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
-
"The Israeli aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip has confirmed once again the urgent and pressing need to end the Israeli occupation, and for our people to gain their freedom and independence."
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. -
"Our people cling to the right to defend themselves against aggression and occupation"- #Abbas #UNbid #palestineby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:00:08 PM -
#Israel take the #UNGA stage #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:09:02 PM
-
"I stand before you tall and proud because I represent the world's one and only Jewish state"- #Israel #UNGA #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:10:00 PM
-
-
"The #palestinians must recognize the Jewish state & must be prepared to end the conflict with #Israel once and for all"- #Israel #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:13:49 PM
-
"The only thing historic about his speech is that he ignored history"- #Israel on #abbas speech at #UNGA #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:15:15 PM
-
"I have never heard you say the phrase 2 states for 2 people"- #Israel on #Abbas #UNGA #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:17:49 PM
-
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reacts to applause from the crowd as he arrives to address the United Nations Generally Assembly at UN Headquarters, in New York, November 29, 2012. Abbas appealed to the U.N. General Assembly to recognize Palestinian statehood by supporting a resolution to upgrade the U.N. observer status of the Palestinian Authority from "entity" to "non-member state." REUTERS/Chip East
-
-
"President #Abbas, instead of revising history its time you started making history by making peace with #israel"- #Israel at #UNGA #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:20:11 PM
-
Israel UN Rep: the truth is, Israel wants peace and Palestinians are avoiding peace, undermining peace, turning their back on peace.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:24:19 PM -
Israel UN Rep: Don't let history record that the UN helped Palestine along on this road to folly. (end of speech)by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:24:45 PM
-
Malaysia UN rep: The time has come to set things right. The right to self determination and independence.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:25:53 PM
-
#indonesia takes stage #UNGAby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:26:59 PM
-
Canadian FM: Canada opposes this resolution in the strongest of terms b/c it undermines a decade of commitment to a 2-state solution.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:29:53 PM
-
Canadian FM: The outstanding issues are too complex to be solved by simplistic, unilateral methods.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:30:18 PM
-
Canadian FM: the peace process, while incomplete, is the only real chance for two countries living side by side as peaceful partners.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:30:53 PM
-
Canadian FM: The people of the region have suffered for seven decades because one side didn't accept Israel 65 years ago.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:32:13 PM
-
#Canada calls to vote against the resolution on #Palestine #UNGA #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:32:19 PM
-
-
How much time has been set aside for debate at the UN? Will this go on for hours or be more limited?by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:38:05 PM
-
Another instance of one person applauding against the resolution. Wonder who it is.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:38:34 PM
-
#Turkey takes the floor of the #UNGA #UNbidby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:39:42 PM
-
Up now: Turkey FM Davitoglu.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:39:59 PM
-
Davitoglu: One who closes his eyes only makes himself a night. For 65 years we've closed our eyes with no resolution for a Palestinian stateby Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:40:52 PM
-
Davitoglu: Thousands of people in Gaza live through an open prison under blockadeby Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:41:19 PM
-
Davitoglu: the Palestinian people have been subject to collective punishment and wars for decades.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:41:40 PM
-
"Today is a milestone. Finally, today, we have a chance to open our eyes to the reality. Today we have an opportunity to give comfort to the Palestinian people, who aspire (to have a) chance to uphold their dignity after years of humiliation."
- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. -
Davitoglu: This is a moment of truth for all of us. The reality of a Palestinian state has been denied for decades.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:43:24 PM
-
Davutoglu: One can do without bread, but not without dignity. The struggle for 65 years has been about dignity.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:44:30 PM
-
Davutoglu: The Palestinian flag should rise by this building. (UN HQ)by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:44:55 PM
-
"A #Palestinian flag should rise by this building"- #Turkey on #UNbid #UNGAby UN Web TV via twitter 11/29/2012 9:45:04 PM
-
Davutoglu: That flag will not only represent an independent member state, but that we've stood together to correct an injustice.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:45:21 PM
-
Davutoglu: Unfortunately the negotiation process for two states...has been put on ice.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:46:27 PM
-
Davutoglu: the current status quo is neither sustainable nor acceptable.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:46:52 PM
-
Davutoglu: The continued expansion of illegal settlements undermines a two-state solution.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:47:16 PM
-
RT @daoudkuttab: turkish FM says our call is for peace no more no less- gets applause
#palestine194by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:48:38 PM -
Davutoglu: we often hear, "Now is not the right time." One can trace this back to resolution 181 on partition, 65 years ago.by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:49:20 PM
-
Davutoglu: To them, I ask: when is the right time for Palestinians to achieve statehood, if not today?by Andy Carvin via twitter 11/29/2012 9:49:39 PM
North Korea fires short-range missiles for two days in a row
SEOUL - North Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast on Sunday, a day after launching three of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said, ignoring calls for restraint from Western powers.
- After crushing Mali Islamists, France pushes deal with Tuaregs
- Upmarket Pakistan district votes again as Imran Khan decries killing
- Syrian army, Hezbollah attack rebels in border town: opposition
- Afghanistan's Karzai seeks Indian military aid amid tensions with Pakistan
- Cameron 'losing control' as rift with party core widens
- Bangladesh court orders action against factory owner in Nov fire
- Netanyahu takes aim at weapons 'leakage' in Syria
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
