Palestinian UN bid

A diplomatic dispute was brewing Saturday after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas vowed to ask the United Nations to recognize its statehood, ignoring opposition from both Israel and the United States.

A first US reaction to Abbas' declaration came early on Saturday. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said: "We believe that any gesture, any movement in New York [for statehood] would be counterproductive to what the real focus should be on, which is direct negotiations between the parties.

Washington has already threatened to veto the Palestinian bid if it is raised in the Security Council, a move which Yossi Peled, an Israeli Likud party minister, said couldn't be prevented.

"Unfortunately, Israel does not have the means to prevent the Palestinians from demanding adhesion of their state to the UN, and it is impossible to stop them," he said.

"But the initiative will no doubt not get through the Security Council, and will leave us room to negotiate," he said, adding that only direct talks will result in the solution of two states for two peoples.

Europe on Saturday joined the diplomatic tussle, calling for a "constructive solution" on Palestinian statehood and a resumption of negotiations with Israel.

"This is the only way to deliver the peace and two state solution the Palestinian people want," said Jaja Cocijanic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy coordinator Catherine Ashton.

'Legitimate right'

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has set the scene for a row next week at the United Nations, where he has promised to request full state membership after addressing the General Assembly on September 23.

In a televised address, Abbas told Palestinians he would submit the request for full membership for a Palestinian state to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"It is our legitimate right," said Abbas, "to demand the full membership of the state of Palestine in the UN."

If Abbas were successful, it would mean Palestine being internationally recognized as an official state.

However, the US and Israel both maintain that a Palestinian state can only be achieved through direct negotiation. Some American politicians have also said they would try to stop US financial aid to the Palestinian people.

Option two

Abbas' other option is to take his request to the General Assembly. While it doesn't have the power to grant full membership, it could recognize Palestine as a non-member state.

Non-member status would give Palestinians access to other international bodies like the International Criminal Court.

The Palestinian leader says he wants to "to put an end to a historical injustice by attaining liberty and independence [based] on the borders of June 4, 1967."

Those borders existed before the 1967 Six Day War, and included Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also appear before the UN next week to explain his country's opposition to the Palestinian plan.

Author: Gabriel Borrud, Zulfikar Abbany (dpa, AFP)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar