PALESTINE IS UN NON-MEMBER STATE

Here is a look at how key players are affected by Thursday’s vote:

PALESTINIANS

Mahmoud Abbas gets a boost. As peace efforts flagged, Abbas has lost popularity, while Hamas rides high after battling Israel in Gaza. The vote grants Abbas global endorsement for his positions: a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, the territories captured by Israel in 1967. With Israel opposed to a pullback, this should strengthen Abbas’ hand if peace talks resume. It opens the door to the Palestinians joining UN agencies, especially the International Criminal Court. However, the vote does not change the situation on the ground.

ISRAEL

The vote amounts to a massive international show of displeasure with Israel. Germany, Italy, France and Australia may abstain or vote with the Palestinians. The resolution could weaken Israeli claims to keeping parts of the West Bank and east Jerusalem. After four years of deadlock in peace efforts, the world seems to be laying the blame on Israel. If opinion polls are correct and Netanyahu wins next elections, he could find face tough international pressure for concessions.

UNITED STATES

The vote appears to reflect the world’s frustration over President Barack Obama’s failure to get Israel and the Palestinians to start talking. Obama initially spoke out against Israeli settlements and even coaxed Netanyahu into a partial freeze on construction. But after the freeze expired, Netanyahu rejected

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