The U.N. General Assembly backs the Palestinians' membership bid

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2022. The U.N. General Assembly has voted on a resolution to grant new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and call on the Security Council to favorably reconsider its request to become a member of the United Nations. (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on Friday to grant new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.

The 193-member world body approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by a vote of 143-9 with 25 abstentions. The United States voted against the resolution, along with Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Papua New Guinea.