Only the official “voting” member states had the right to fly their flag in front of the United Nations.
But the General Assembly just a few weeks ago voted overwhelmingly to allow the Palestinians and the Vatican, the only two nonmember “observer” states, to fly their flags.
The flag of the Holy See, the official “state” name of the Vatican, was raised without ceremony last Friday, the day on which Pope Francis addressed the United Nations. It was flying today in its permanent place with all the other flags of the nations.
Today the Palestinian flag was raised at the United Nations at 1:36 p.m. in a ceremonial garden.
At the ceremony Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, said that this day, September 30, will be known every year as the day of the Palestinian flag.
The banner of breaking news at the bottom of the screen was screaming for attention at the same minute.
With Open Doors 