Nearly 140 countries voted in the U.N. on Thursday to recognize the Palestinian territories as a "nonmember observer state" over the strenuous objections of Israel and the U.S., marking a milestone with potentially far-reaching consequences for the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict.

The 138-9 vote, with 41 abstentions, came on the 65th anniversary of the assembly's resolution calling for the partition of British mandate Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.

The new status, which is akin to the Vatican's own stature in the world body, marked a rare victory for the Fatah party's diplomatic path toward statehood after its rival Hamas's military strategy had taken the spotlight during the recent Gaza conflict.

Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah, who were crowded around outdoor television screens during the vote in New York erupted into applause, whistles and hugs, as some people fired guns into the air and beeped car horns in celebration.

"We didn't come here seeking to delegitimize a state established years ago, and that is Israel; rather we came to affirm the legitimacy of the state that must now achieve its independence, and that is Palestine," Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, told the assembly to a standing ovation.

The immediate question was whether the vote spurs or further delays the resumption of talks between Israel and the Palestinians that Israel says are needed to finalize the status of the West Bank and Gaza territories.

While Mr. Abbas argued the vote would create the momentum to resume moribund talks, the U.S. and Israel denounced the vote as a "unilateral" move in the multilateral assembly.

"Today's unfortunate and counterproductive resolution places further obstacles to peace," said U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice. "No resolution can create a state where none exists."

She added, "Palestinians will wake up tomorrow and find that little has changed saved the prospect of direct talks have receded."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the vote as an empty gesture that makes little difference for Palestinians, and makes peace prospects more remote.

"The decision at the U.N. today won't change a thing on the ground,'' he said prior to the vote. "Peace will be reached through agreements reached between Jerusalem and Ramallah, and not through declarations passed at the U.N.''

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the vote as an empty gesture that makes little difference for Palestinians, and makes peace prospects more remote.

"The decision at the U.N. today won't change a thing on the ground,'' he said prior to the vote. "Peace will be reached through agreements reached between Jerusalem and Ramallah, and not through declarations passed at the U.N.''

Prof Corruption: Palestine is voted as a non member "state". Nothing, substantially, has changed.

HAH: who told you there is nothing substantial you are obviously being guided by the us- isreali propaganda, for goodness sake this people who hitherto are known as an entity are now being recognized as a "state" which means country whether member or not I think that is great ,moreover this same pattern was used by un in 1947 to create the " state of israel".

now the next step for palestine is to sue them in ICC.

HAH: the whole world knows about the injustice being done to the palestine for goodness sake look at the countries that voted against palestine : israel,usa,canada,panama,nauru,micronesia,czech rep,palau and samoa. the rest of the cohort who know the truth but for the fear of america decided to abstain. well thank God Nigeria voted for palestine

Prof Corruption:

Many countries that voted for Palestine made it abundantly clear they were not voting for Palestine as a full member state. Listen to individual justifications of member states. I don't your definition of truth

HAH: if not because of the injustice called veto power in the security council they would have been full members, but you know a journey of a thousand mile begins with a step and i believe this is a bold step by palestine.

my guy why do you support this apathied, well your name says it all "prof corruption" lol

HAH: if what is happening in palestine is not apathied then I don't know what apatheid is ? this peoples ancestral home were taken away by the un and given to jews because of some fairy tales of 3000 years ago, upon that they start to maltreat and sagregate them with the backing of usa and you tell me this is not apatheid.

the good news is that the jews are gradually losing their powers in america, very soon the us govt will realize the embarassment the israeli are causing them and they will abandon them.

shymexx: Nothing special but anything is better than nothing...

I'll like see how the whole thing plays out, however, Palestine would have to compromise and will probably lose Jerusalem...

This is more reason why they need to pray for Israel to self-destruct and attack Iran, that's the only country in the ME that can get Israel off their back...

HAH: For israel to be culled out of palestine in 1948 by UN is like today" because of segregation you bring black americans back to africa and let say taking south-south Nigeria and giving them since their ancestors 300 years ago were enslaved. and even after we agree that they should be given theland they start encroaching on south east. and soth west with the backing of US. to an extend they almost capture the entire country. Don't you think we Nigerians will do anything to see that to protect ourselves and get our land back.

shymexx: Nothing special but anything is better than nothing...

I'll like see how the whole thing plays out, however, Palestine would have to compromise and will probably lose Jerusalem...

This is more reason why they need to pray for Israel to self-destruct and attack Iran, that's the only country in the ME that can get Israel off their back...

Cunninlingus:

You are such a pathetic f00l. Stay out of issues that neither concerns you or of which you know little or nothing of.

Palestine would have to compromise and will probably lose Jerusalem.

Prof Corruption:

Reasonable. That's why the Israeli ll not attack Iran without an understanding with US.The only Islamic state capable of challenging Israel is Iran.

shymexx:

Israelis are not suicidal - they know they'll lose most of the occupied territories and Golan Heights, with all the fresh water there...

Perhaps, that's why they're trying to lure the Americans into doing their dirty work for them...

shymexx:

Who the fvck are you? - Another bible thumper who thinks Yisrael is the promised land, no? And the Jews are the chosen people?? Bwahahahahahahaha

You'll wait forever for rapture...

Cunninlingus:

You are such a pathetic f00l. Stay out of issues that neither concerns you or of which you know little or nothing of.