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United Nations has voted to update status of Palestine to non-member observer state. historic vote took place on Thursday in packed session at U.N. headquarters. More than two-thirds of 193 member states were needed to approve motion for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-9 with 41 abstentions. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in favour of recognizing Palestinians. USA, Canada and Israel were among those voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia abstained. vote came 65 years to day that U.N. adopted resolution recommending partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed vote as "negative political theatre" and announced building of 3,000 new homes in West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Celebrations broke out across West Bank as news of vote came through. fact that U.N. has implicitly recognized Palestine's sovereignty was greeted as major diplomatic victory. Veteran Palestinian peace negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what recognition meant for Palestine: "Getting state status is what empowers Palestinians, what defines our territory as occupied, what defines our relationships regionally and with rest of world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped U.N. vote would "breathe new life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was " last chance to save two-state solution". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: " resolution…won't change anything on ground. It won't advance establishment of Palestinian state, but rather, put it further off."