The draft resolution, presented by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Group of Arab States, and co-sponsored by about 40 countries, obtained 143 votes in favor -- including Portugal --, nine against and 25 abstentions from the 193 UN member states. Countries such as Israel, the United States or Hungary voted against this text and among the countries that abstained are Ukraine, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany or Canada. "The General Assembly determines that the State of Palestine is qualified for UN membership in accordance with Article 4 of the United Nations Charter and shall therefore be admitted to membership in the United Nations", the resolution states. The text also asks the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, "to take the necessary steps to implement this resolution". Among the new rights granted to the Palestinians in this resolution are their seat among the member states in alphabetical order, the submission of proposals individually or on behalf of a group before the General Assembly, the request for the right of reply, making statements or requesting changes to the agenda, among others. The resolution also requests that the rights claimed for Palestine - and which represent an improvement in its Observer State status - be considered "an exception and not taken as a precedent". "The State of Palestine, in its capacity as an Observer State, shall not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or to stand for election to United Nations organs", the resolution states. Before the vote, the United States, Israel's unwavering ally, had already announced that it would vote against the resolution, having urged the other member states to do the same. "Efforts to advance this resolution do not change the reality that the Palestinian Authority currently does not meet the criteria for UN membership under the UN Charter", said today, before the vote, the spokesperson for the US mission to the UN, Nate Evans. The spokesperson warned that if the Palestinian membership request is referred back to the UN Security Council, "a similar outcome to that which occurred in April" would be expected, when Washington vetoed the draft. Read Also: PCP wants to hear Rangel in parliament about the situation in Palestine (Portuguese version)