In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Friday that peace talks are the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He added that the Palestinian efforts at the U.N. are “counterproductive gestures.”

A bid for full membership for the Palestinians 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.

Palestinians could achieve non-member status by winning a simple majority in the 193-member General Assembly, where they enjoy strong support. Palestinians currently hold observer status at the United Nations.

Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters Thursday that Palestinians have been working for years to build institutions that would make it easier for them to quickly form a state.