The  United Nations  General Assembly has voted by a more than two-thirds majority to upgrade  the Palestinians’ diplomatic status to a non-member observer.

The resolution was approved by the 193-member world body by a vote of 138-9 with 41 abstentions.

Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird spoke strongly against the bid before the vote, and Israel and the United States warned it could delay hopes of achieving an independent Palestinian state through peace talks with Israel.

Canada joined the U-S in voting against the motion.