Palestine casts first vote at UNGA as observer state

The State of Palestine on Monday cast its first vote at the UN General Assembly to elect one judge for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), a move its Ambassador Riyadh Mansour saw as a step closer to recognize the Observer State as a full UN member. Koffi Kumelio Afande, of Togo, was elected to the court. In accordance with the Statute of the ICTY, non-member states have the right to nominate judges and participate in the election procedures equal to all UN member states; they cannot vote on other UNGA resolutions. Palestine became an observer state last November 29. "This is an important step in our march for freedom and independence and full membership of the United Nations," Mansour told the Assembly after it stood in applause as he cast his vote despite Israeli and US objections. He later told reporters "this is a very, very special moment in the history of the struggle of the Palestinian people at the United Nations. It is another step for strengthening the pillars of the state of Palestine in the international arena." Though "symbolic," the vote is "important because it reflects that the international community, particularly the General Assembly, is hungry and waiting for the state of Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations," he argued. "I felt so proud -- of putting on behalf of our entire nation that ballot in the box," he added