TNI Bureau: The United Nation General Assembly has voted on Thursday in favour of granting the upgraded status of non-members Observer state to Palestine on the lines of Vatican. India was among the 138 countries, which voted in favour of the resolution while there were nine votes against the move led by US and Israel. 41 countries abstained from voting including Germany and the UK.

The change in status from Observer entity to Observer State means Palestinians can now participate in debates and the resolutions at UN. They can access membership of additional UN bodies like the International Criminal Court where they can try to put Israel on a war crime charges.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the assembly the vote was the “last chance to save the two-state solution” with Israel.

The Palestinians believe that the upgraded status would also help their claims for an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem which was captured by Israel in the 1967.

Israel’s envoy to the UN said the bid pushed peace process “backwards”, while The US Ambassador Susan Rice told that the resolution was unfortunate, counter- productive and would create further obstacles on the path of peace.

However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged the two sides to work for a lasting peace through negotiations while living side by side peacefully.