Palestinians Plan to Submit UN Bid Next Week

Posted September 15th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
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A Palestinian official says the Palestinians will present their bid next week for state recognition at the United Nations, as Western envoys continue to push for a revival of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki said Thursday that Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas will submit the application on September 23, as the U.N. General Assembly meets in New York.

It is not clear if Mr. Abbas will seek U.N. Security Council approval of U.N. member status for an independent Palestine, or instead seek lesser “non-member” status within the world body.

A bid for full membership would be subject to a veto by one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, including the U.S., which has opposed the Palestinian plan and said it would use its veto power. Achieving non-member status requires only a simple majority in the 193-member General Assembly.

U.S. envoy David Hale and senior White House aide Dennis Ross are expected to meet with Mr. Abbas Thursday in the West Bank, a day after holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. officials have said peace talks are the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday she hopes mediators can achieve “something” in the coming days that enables negotiations between the two sides.

Palestinians say they are seeking U.N. recognition after years of negotiations with Israel failed to deliver an independent state. President Abbas backed out of U.S.-led peace talks last year in protest at Israel's decision to end a freeze on settlement building on land the Palestinians want for a future state.

Palestinians currently hold observer status at the United Nations.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday there will be “grave consequences” if Palestinians proceed with the U.N. bid, but did not specify what those consequences would be.