1.  How many of the world's 196 countries are members of the United Nations?

2.  a) How many members of the UN voted to approve the resolution upgrading the Palestinians' status from an observer to a nonmember observer state on Thursday? [NOTE: Approximately 50 UN member states are Muslim-majority countries.]
b)  List the 9 countries which voted no to giving the Palestinians non-member observer state status.

3.  a) How many UN members abstained from voting?
b)  Do you support the abstention votes?  Explain your answer.

4.  Aside from obtaining non-member observer status at the UN, what is the ultimate goal for the Palestinians?

5.  What do the U.S. and Israel say the Palestinians must do before obtaining full member status at the UN?

6.  What will the Palestinians be able to do at the UN that they were unable to do before the vote?

7.  How did Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas' talk contradict his insistence that he wants UN recognition to give him leverage in future talks with Israel, and not as a tool for confronting or delegitimizing Israel, as Israeli leaders have said?

8.  How were the Palestinians able to obtain non-member status but not full membership at the UN?