Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.Photo: AP

With 138 yes votes, 9 no votes and 41 abstentions, the UN General Assembly upgraded Palestine’s status to an observer non-member state. But Palestine statehood will remain just a distant dream until Palestine negotiates with Israel. Tel Aviv said the UN vote will only delay a long-term solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The US immediately criticized the vote. US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice said the vote will hinder the path to peace in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “defamatory and anti-Israel”. After the vote, Netanyahu said the UN has violated the Israel- Palestine agreement and Israel will have a response.