Raising the Palestinian Flag at the United Nations Headquarters

The Palestinian flag was raised for the first time among the flags of countries at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, following a speech by Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, at the UN General Assembly. In his speech, Mahmoud Abbas called for full membership for Palestine in the United Nations and for UN support for the Palestinian people. The flag was raised as Abbas stated that Palestine deserves full membership and recognition as a country in the UN. He declared that due to the ongoing Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, he is no longer bound by the agreements signed with Israel. The 80-year-old leader of the Palestinian Authority stated that Israel's failure to commit to signed agreements has resulted in a sovereignty without real power for them. He said, 'As long as Israel refuses to stop settlement activities and release the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners as per the agreements, it leaves Palestinians with no option but to emphasize that they will not be the only party committed to these agreements while Israel continuously violates them.' Abbas continued, 'Therefore, they announce that they cannot remain bound by these agreements and that Israel must take responsibility as an occupying power.' In his speech, the Palestinian leader accused Israel of 'repeated organized assaults on Al-Aqsa Mosque aimed at imposing a new reality' and warned that such actions create an explosive situation. Recent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the sensitive area of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem have heightened tensions and prompted Abbas to warn of the possibility of a third intifada. He stated that 'wasting time in negotiations for the sake of negotiations is no longer useful,' and announced that 'what is needed is to equip international efforts to monitor the end of the occupation, in line with international resolutions.' The President of the Palestinian Authority added that 'until then, he asks the UN to provide international protection for the Palestinian people according to international humanitarian law.' In response to Abbas's speech, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement calling his remarks deceptive and a provocation for unrest in the Middle East. The Israeli Prime Minister, who is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, stated in his statement that he expects the Palestinian Authority and its leadership to act responsibly and accept his proposal for direct negotiations without preconditions. During the flag-raising ceremony among the flags of UN member countries, the President of the Palestinian Authority referred to the event as a 'historic moment' and a 'day of pride.' Twenty days prior, on September 10, the UN General Assembly approved the raising of the Palestinian flag and its placement among the flags of UN member countries with 119 votes in favor, 45 abstentions, and 8 against.