In a historic moment on Wednesday afternoon, the Palestinian flag was raised for the first time at the United Nations. While diplomats and reporters watched on in New York, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to watch the flag-raising on a large screen staged in Yasser Arafat Square.
Addressing the crowd, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dedicated the ceremony to “the martyrs, the prisoners and the wounded, and to those who gave their lives while trying to raise this flag.”
Only minutes earlier President Abbas had addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke of the failure of more than two decades of peace agreements and negotiations for a Palestinian state. Speaking on the Oslo accords he said: “We will start the implementation of this declaration by all peaceful and legal means. Either the Palestinian National Authority will be the conduit of the Palestinian people from occupation to independence, or Israel, the occupying power, must bear all of its responsibilities.”
At the flag ceremony, President Abbas noted the importance of the flag-raising stating, “[i]n this historical moment, I say to my people everywhere: raise the flag of Palestinians very high because it is the symbol of our identity”.
UN Secretary-General, Ban-Ki Moon echoing President Abbas said, “[t]his is a day of pride for Palestinians around the world. It is a day of hope. It’s a reminder that symbols are important.” He continued, “[m]ay the raising of this flag give rise to the hope among the Palestinians and the international community that Palestinian statehood is achievable.”
In Yasser Arafat Square, Al-Jazeera reported the mood was “festive” and “families sang along to nationalistic songs and waved the Palestinian flag.”
“It is a proud day,” said President Abbas.
Addressing the crowd, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dedicated the ceremony to “the martyrs, the prisoners and the wounded, and to those who gave their lives while trying to raise this flag.”
Only minutes earlier President Abbas had addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke of the failure of more than two decades of peace agreements and negotiations for a Palestinian state. Speaking on the Oslo accords he said: “We will start the implementation of this declaration by all peaceful and legal means. Either the Palestinian National Authority will be the conduit of the Palestinian people from occupation to independence, or Israel, the occupying power, must bear all of its responsibilities.”
At the flag ceremony, President Abbas noted the importance of the flag-raising stating, “[i]n this historical moment, I say to my people everywhere: raise the flag of Palestinians very high because it is the symbol of our identity”.
UN Secretary-General, Ban-Ki Moon echoing President Abbas said, “[t]his is a day of pride for Palestinians around the world. It is a day of hope. It’s a reminder that symbols are important.” He continued, “[m]ay the raising of this flag give rise to the hope among the Palestinians and the international community that Palestinian statehood is achievable.”
In Yasser Arafat Square, Al-Jazeera reported the mood was “festive” and “families sang along to nationalistic songs and waved the Palestinian flag.”
“It is a proud day,” said President Abbas.