Congratulations Palestine ......

Issued on November 30, 2012 at 02:39 PM

UN votes overwhelmingly to recognise Palestine as the world's 194th state with some notable exceptions

A resolution has just been adopted by the UN General Assembly to give Observer State status in the UN to Palestine.

The state of Palestine has already been recognized by 132 countries, and the Palestinians have 80 embassies and 40 representative offices around the world, according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. Palestinians lobbied hard for Western support, winning over key European countries including France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Ireland, as well as Japan and New Zealand. Germany and Britain were among the many Western nations that abstained.  Joining the United States and Israel in voting "no" were Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Panama.

This is a huge victory for the Palestinian people, for peace and for others around the world who face crushing barriers to freedom and the recognition of their human rights.  However, this is by no means over and there is still much to do.

A statement by the Tanaiste on the resolution can be read here and a letter from Congress to Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore following recent discussions at Executive Council.