by RAKSHA DONDAPATI Staff Writer
The United Nations voted to upgrade Palestine to a nonmember observer state on November 29.
Palestine is in Western Asia, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.
The General Assembly voted to raise the status of Palestine, in a vote of 138 states in favor, nine countries opposed, and 41 abstaining, showing a large amount of support for the Palestinians.
This decision was a triumph for Palestinians, and a rebuke to the United States and Israel who were strongly against the idea.
United States Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said, “This resolution does not establish that Palestine is a state.”
This raises the question of the impact the decision will have on Palestine, if it will have one at all.
“Now that it is a nonmember observer state, there are probably reasons, unless the UN just did it for the sake of doing it,” said freshman Charvonne Tsang. “The plans may or may not play a big role in affecting Palestine.”
The new status raised morale, but some question if it will make much of a difference.
It will allow Palestine to join specialized U.N. agencies and treaties. It also brings Palestine closer to attaining legal rights over its air space and waters. Palestine can now challenge Jewish settlements and may even be able to bring war charges against Israel in the International Criminal Court.
However, U.N. membership does not guarantee the right of being an independent state. The Security Council of the U.N. did not recommend Palestine for independent membership. Palestine is not recognized by most as an actual “state”, even after the vote.
“I hope this is good,” said Munir Shafie, a Palestinian electrical engineer when interviewed by the New York Times. “But how are we going to benefit?”