The number of flags flying outside the United Nations' headquarters in New York City will grow by two, thanks to an overwhelming vote on Thursday in favor of adding the banners of the U.N.'s two nonmember observer states, Palestine and the Vatican. All told, 119 nations, including almost all of Asia and Africa's representatives as well as many Arab states and Iran, voted in favor of Palestine having the right to fly its flag. Only eight, including the United States and Israel, voted against the measure, with 45 abstaining.
"Today's vote is a reaffirmation of the legitimacy of the national aspirations of the Palestinian people, of their existence among the nations of the world and their right to self-determination," the Palestinian ambassador, Riyad H. Mansour, said in comments to the General Assembly.
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