AlHijjah 4, 1432, Oct 31, 2011, SPA -- Palestine became a full member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday, as huge cheers went up after delegates approved the membership in a vote of 107-14 with 52 abstentions. Eighty-one votes were needed for approval in a hall with 173 UNESCO member delegations present. In a surprise, France voted "yes" - and the room erupted in cheers - while the "no" votes included the United States, Israel, Sweden, the Netherland and Germany.