The United Nations General Assembly voted in an overwhelming majority on Thursday for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to be recognized as a non-member observer state.

Out of the 193-member assembly, 138 countries supported the PA bid. Nine, including the United States and Israel, opposed the resolution. There were 41 abstentions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the diplomatic victory a "birth certificate" for the Palestinian state.

More from GlobalPost: Could the Palestinian Authority take Israel to the International Criminal Court?

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice criticized the vote, saying, "Today's unfortunate and counterproductive resolution places further obstacles in the path peace."

GlobalPost's correspondent in Israel, Noga Tarnopolsky, said the vote will change very little for Palestinians.

"Until various conditions are met ― including the definition of permanent Palestinian borders, security arrangements and agreement regarding its armed forces ― Palestine will not have a vote in the international body," she said.

But that didn't stop the vote's emotional power from sweeping the streets of Ramallah and beyond.

Whether impotent and symbolic, counterproductive, or a step towards final recognition by the UN Security Council, Palestinians in the West Bank took to the streets and heralded the UN vote as a decisive victory. Here's a look at their celebration.