Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas watches as the Palestinian flag is raised at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.<br/> The ceremony follows an October vote in which Palestinians were given membership of the United Nations' cultural agency.<br/> The vote was a diplomatic victory for Abbas, who is pushing for recognition of the Palestinian state at the UN, a move opposed by Israel and the U.S.<br/> Peace talks froze a year ago over the continued expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.<br/> Since the UNESCO vote, Israel has pressed ahead with new settlements, and the Palestinians have refused calls to renew talks whilst the settlement programme continues.<br/> Abbas was also due to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday.<br/> Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
