A collective of trade unions raised the Palestinian flag over their headquarters in Ramallah on Thursday in support of a UN vote on adding the national flag to the UN building in New York. The trade unions’ media office said that the Palestinian flag is a “symbol of martyrs, sacrifices, revolution and statehood,” stressing that the UN move is of political and moral significance, and an important step in achieving an independent state.

The General Assembly is set to vote at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) on a draft resolution that diplomats say is almost certain to garner a majority in the 193-nation forum.

“It is a symbolic thing, but another step to solidify the pillars of the state of Palestine in the international arena,” said Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the UN.

If adopted, the UN would have 20 days to implement the move, which would be in time for a visit by President Mahmoud Abbas on Sept. 30. Mansour said the initiative had the potential to “give our people some hope that the international community is still supporting the independence of the state of Palestine.

Both Israel and the United States have expressed strong opposition, with Israel’s ambassador to the body Ron Prosor slamming “a blatant attempt to hijack the UN