The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to recognize the state of Palestine by upgrading its status to “non-member observer state.” The historic vote saw 138 countries voting in favor of the Palestinian bid with just nine states, including the United States and Israel, voting no. Forty-one countries, including Britain and Germany, abstained. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke at the United Nations ahead of Thursday’s vote.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: “Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the United Nations General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate of the reality of the state of Palestine.”