After Abbas’s fiery speech, Palestinian flag raised at UN for first time

The Palestinians raised their flag at the United Nations on Wednesday for the first time, a symbolic gesture approved by a General Assembly vote at the world body earlier this month.

The red, black, white and green Palestinian flag was erected around 1:15 p.m. in the rose garden of the UN headquarters in New York.

“In this historical moment, I say to my people everywhere: Raise the flag of Palestinians very high because it is the symbol of our identity,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the assembled crowd. “It is a proud day.”

Ominous dark clouds gathered in the sky, threatening to mar with rain an occasion condemned by Israel and the United States as a gesture that would not serve the cause of peace.

The General Assembly voted on September 10 to allow the flags of Palestine and the Vatican — both have observer status — to be raised at the world body alongside those of member states.

The resolution was backed by 119 countries, with 45 abstentions and eight votes against, including Australia, Israel and the United States.

In contrast to the Palestinians, the Holy See flag was raised outside UN headquarters without fanfare or ceremony just before Pope Francis arrived last Friday to address the General Assembly.

Earlier Wednesday Abbas told the General Assembly that the PA would cease to abide by agreements signed with Israel, claiming Israel had shown that it, too, was no longer committed to them.

“So long as Israel refuses to commit to the agreements signed with us, cease settlement construction and release prisoners, Israel has left us no choice but to insist that we will not remain the only ones committed to these agreements,” Abbas said.

He called on the international community to recognize Palestinian statehood and to provide “protection” to the Palestinian people in the face of Israeli occupation.