The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Thursday to recognize the state of Palestine.

Celebration erupted in the West Bank after the Assembly voted 138 to 9, with 41 abstentions, to upgrade Palestine's U.N. status to a non-member observer state.

Palestinians said the recognition was needed in order to resume peace talks with Israel, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the vote would change nothing and even set back negotiations.

The vote comes a year after Palestinians failed to get the Security Council to recognize Palestine as a full-fledged U.N. member.