Page 40 - Flag Raising News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

For more, let's bring in oren lieberman. how are the israelis responding to the palestinian flag being raised at the u.n. and the fact that mthey have publically abandoned. >> reporter: it's simply a ceremony and they've called for direct negotiations. that's been their criticism of the flag raising from the beginning. they were one of eight states including the united states to vote against the flag raising at the united nations. as for what he said, he made a powerful statement. the question is where do the statements lead? he hedged just a little bit saying that if israel won't follow the a...

Raising. how much significance are people attaching to this flag raising. >> this is a proud moment for palestinians. but they say this has to last more than a moment. this has to be followed by concrete steps towards a palestinian state. it's a proud moment for israelis. different reactions there. some who support a two-state solution and some who do not. >> symbols can carry tremendous significance. perhaps no symbol stirs up more emotions and controversy than the palestinian flag. you'll see the flag in bethlehem in the west bank and now you'll find the palestinian flag at the united nation...

>> the palestinians see this as another step towards creating their place within the international community. the palestinian authority will alsoed address the u.n. general assembly on wednesday. we're joined now live from jerusalem. apart from annoying israelis, how will raising the flag at the u.n. et g the palestinians any closer to statehood? >> well, john, this flag raising will put the palestinian back on the u.n. agenda where it hasn't been for the last couple of days. president obama didn't mention it, which palestinian leaders say was disappointing. this flooes puts the palestinians b...

Richard, president mahmoud abbas of the palestinian authority has shared his views on this ceremo ceremony. what's he saying? >> reporter: abbas already has written about what he plans to observe in a couple of hours. he here in the rose garden at the u.n., this historic and controversial raising of the palestinian flag for the first time. the palestinians are not an official state here at the u.n. though the resolution about the flag says it's a state in palestine. abbas, in huffington post, wrote -- here's a portion of it, "the international community demonstrated its solidarity with the pal...

Marines who took down the flag more than five decades ago. >> never thought i would be going back, but i welcome the chance. >> i'm going to love seeing that flag go back up. >> yeah, i think about it every night now. seeing the flag go back up. it means a lot. >> the ceremonial reopening of the u.s. embassy in one of the world's few remaining communist dictatorships does not come without controversy. cuban dissidents, pro-democracy who forms america's primary link to 50 years are not invited to the flag raising. while a hand 46 picked group will meet with secretary kerry today, it will be beh...