UNESCO's vote to accept Palestine as a member is a "jubilant day," a Palestinian Authority official said Monday, dpa reported.
"This is a historic day for Palestinians," said Sabri Saidam, an advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"To us this is one political pillar of many pillars in our struggle to have independence and I believe we are closer to independence than ever before," he told dpa.
"This is a big message for those wavering and those opposing the Palestinian motion at the Security Council," he said, asking those member states of the council who opposed recommending that Palestine be accepted as a full UN member state "to reconsider their positions."