OTTAWA – Canada’s vote against recognizing the Palestinians as a non-member observer state at the U-N has garnered a thank you from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Harper tweeted on Saturday that he spoke to Netanyahu by phone and that he “thanked Canada for its friendship and principled position this week at the U-N.”

The vote to raise the Palestinians to non-voting observer state status passed at the U-N General Assembly 138-to-9, with 41 abstentions.

Foreign Affairs John Baird later warned the General Assembly the vote would undermine efforts by Israel and the  Palestinians to reach a lasting peace agreement.

Baird has recalled senior diplomats from Israel, the West Bank and the U-N missions in New York and Geneva to discuss the implications of the vote.

Canada’s 300-million-dollars in aid for the Palestinians is also under review.