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UN General Assembly votes in favor of Palestinian statehood

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    Jonathan Hunt reports from the United Nations

  • Duration 4:46
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Thursday night this was the moment when history unfolded at the United Nations.

The voting has been completed.

-- that the general assembly officially change the Palestinians status from a UN observer.

To a non member observer state.

What's like the Vatican.

The final vote today a landslide 138.

To nine.

-- everybody else abstaining.

The United States and Israel -- strongest opponents of this resolution tonight they're reacting with sharp criticism.

But the Palestinian people their pretty excited about it at all.

Today's vote doesn't give them independents but it is a step in that direction they believe.

And just look at the seed in the West Bank this is Ramallah just minutes after the results became official.

Thousands of people celebrating in the streets there hope that the general assembly's endorsement gives them more leverage when they're negotiating with Israel.

Now let's look at what how they're getting those to get negotiations done.

These are the current borders in the Middle East has seen on this map the Palestinians want Israel to go back to the lines drawn.

In a war in 1967.

To 67 borders they call it.

Give back the land in the west bank and Gaza and East Jerusalem that the Israelis captured in that six days of war.

Keep in mind we're just days into a truce in the latest conflict between Israelis and Hamas militants who run the West Bank what's -- -- -- run Gaza.

And the Palestinians say today's development could help bring about peace in the region not sabotage it is the Israelis and some in Washington -- Today's grand pronouncements will soon trade him.

And the Palestinian people will wake up tomorrow.

And find that little about their lives and that's changed and -- that the prospects of a terrible piece.

Have only receded.

And minutes after the vote secretary of state Hillary Clinton echoed that perspective calling today's vote unfortunate.

And counterproductive.

-- that we have team fox coverage of today's developments Jonathan.

It's well first we're gonna have David Lee Miller in Jerusalem but first let's get to The Fox Report -- correspondent Jonathan Hunt whose -- force the United Nations.

-- a lot of strong words there today.

Get very strong language indeed chat on the Palestinian side.

President Mahmoud Abbas described this resolution as quote.

-- lost jobs for peace implicit in that is the argument that by recognizing.

A Palestinian state.

The United Nations emboldens and strengthens.

Mahmoud Abbas is a moderate fat top -- against the mall militant Hamas.

From the Israeli side -- officials said.

This is not a -- at any particular Palestinian faction.

And they said in fact that Palestinians all of all political stripes have repeatedly turned away from negotiations.

And towards violence here -- the arguments from both sides in the order that they were presented.

To the general assembly listened.

-- Did you honestly and don't stand for -- moral duty.

But the movie.

Which it must not tennis people -- And fans who -- starting duty.

Which come out and do route further delayed.

The choices that Israel wants peace and the Palestinians are avoiding peace those -- -- -- the resolution today.

I'm not advancing -- they are undermining -- The UN was founded to advance the cause of peace today the Palestinians are turning their back.

On peace.

The US of course agreed -- that Israeli argument but not many other nations did.

Only eight in fact to joining the United States in voting no to recognizing a Palestinian state -- Jonathan as you mentioned a lot of symbolism there but a practical matter of importance as well.

When it comes to the international criminal court.

Yet this is the practical since it concerned at least the biggest practical concern here.

Is that by recognizing a Palestinian state that also gives the Palestinians.

Access to the international criminal caught.

And Mahmoud -- -- pointedly used the phrase.

-- crying is in his speech an indication.

That Palestinians may well try to bring war crimes charges against Israeli generals all politicians in the international criminal court.

If that happens it is very hard to -- prime minister Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas all -- -- any of their underlings sitting down -- any kind of peace negotiations.

That is their practical concern tonight -- Jonathan Hunt at the United Nations for -- Jonathan thanks --

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