Palestine's upgraded status at the United Nations would not pave the way for the creation of a Palestinian state unless it directly negotiates with Tel Aviv, an Israeli government spokesperson said here on Friday.

"From a practical point of view, the decision of the UN does not change anything. The general assembly of the UN has no mandate to create a state," Avi Pazner told local broadcaster Europe1.

He added that "the only way to create a Palestinian state is negotiating with Israel."

On Thursday, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a resolution recognizing Palestine as a non-member observer state.

Shortly after that, French President Francois Hollande issued a statement to congratulate Palestine and urged Palestine and Israel "to resume negotiations unconditionally and as soon as possible."

France was the first European state to confirm it would vote in favor of Palestine receiving the non-member observer state status at the UN General Assembly. Endi

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