Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has already presented the official request for full membership of the United Nations body to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon.

The request was presented just moments before Abbas is scheduled to take the floor and address the General Assembly, requesting full membership for "Palestine."

Thousands are gathered in the streets of the Palestinian territories, watching the speech on enormous screens, and waving Palestinian flags. In Ramallah, one man dressed as Yassar Arafat walked around the town to strengthen the "national spirit."