A Fresno native just returned from serving in the Israeli army, just days before a big vote regarding Palestinian statehood.
The United Nations voted overwhelmingly to recognize a Palestinian state as a non-member observer.
The vote came over the objections of not only Israel, but also by the United States.
CBS47 talked with Fresno native Darrow Pierce, who just returned to Fresno after serving the past 2 years in the Israeli army. "I can tell you from personal experience that rockets fall almost every day," said Pierce.
"I want to live in Israel and one of the huge parts of Israel is the army because it's compulsory service. So a lot of the culture focuses around what happens in the army," said Pierce.
As a physical trainer for soldiers in basic training, Pierce was not on the frontlines, but she lived right next to Gaza, and she experienced the violence of the war first hand. "A lot of the times I had to run for bomb shelters. I had 15 seconds or less," said Pierce.
Now back in Fresno, Pierce is witnessing the celebrations in the streets of the Palestinian territories following Thursday's historic vote at the UN.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the vote a milestone. "The United Nations General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate for the reality of a Palestinian state," said Abbas.
But Secretary of State Hilary Clinton called the vote unfortunate and counterproductive, and not the path to a lasting peace. "We have been clear that only through direct negotiations between the parties, can the Palestinians and Israelis achieve the peace they both deserve," said Clinton.
Pierce agrees with Clinton saying, "I don't think it should be forced, I think it should be something that happens through negotiation."
Moving on from the defeat, US Ambassador Susan Rice is calling for an immediate resumption of peace talks.
