Barghouthi thanks Finland, Italy, Brazil for UN vote

Barghouthi thanked them for their countries’ support to the Palestinian bid to the UN General Assembly which was approved by an overwhelming majority promoting the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state.

Barghouthi also updated the ambassadors on the “dangerous situations” resulting from recent Israeli measures, namely the ongoing settlement expansion.

He urged all three countries to exert more pressure on Israel to stop settlement expansion and “economic piracy” in a reference to withholding the Palestinian Authority’s tax revenue.

The UN General Assembly voted Nov. 29 to upgrade the Palestinian status in the world body, making it a "non-member state". The decision was backed by 138 nations.