Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to apply for full membership of the United Nations today in a move strongly opposed by both Israel and the US.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to apply for full membership of the United Nations today.
The move is strongly opposed by Israel and the United States, which has said it will use its veto on the Security Council to prevent it, if necessary
Meanwhile, diplomats from the international "Quartet" of Middle-East mediators are trying to craft a statement that would resolve the impasse and enable direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume.
Reports from New York say envoys from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations have continued to work constructively on the issue and will meet again today.
US President Barack Obama insisted in a speech to the UN General Assembly that kick-starting the negotiations with Israel - which broke down a year ago after the Jewish state resumed settlement building - was the only path towards a lasting peace.
But the address sparked angry demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza, with Palestinians accusing Mr Obama of double standards for praising the Arab spring protests while seeking to block Palestinian dreams.
The speech did "not meet Palestinian hopes for the freedom and independence that the US administration is calling for for all people, except the Palestinians," said top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
"Despite this unfair position and all the pressure, President Abbas will submit tomorrow a request to admit the state of Palestine at the UN via the Security Council," he stressed.
The Obama administration seemed resigned yesterday to the fact that Mr Abbas would snub their calls to drop his UN membership bid.
"I think it is important to note that regardless of what happens tomorrow in the United Nations, we remain focused on the day after," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
She told reporters: "I remain committed to working with the parties to obtain the goal that the United States supports, that is a two-state solution."
source
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