Palestinian statehood bid 'papers ready'

[Scurrilous]

Official says reported US efforts to get Palestinians to halt their UN membership campaign will not succeed.

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"The Palestinians will not be deterred from seeking UN membership, senior officials say in response to a report that the the US is trying to head off their bid.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that the US has launched an attempt to persuade the Palestinians not to seek statehood at the annual UN General Assembly meeting beginning on September 20.

"When it comes to going to the United Nations, I think the train has left the station," Muhammad Shtayyeh, a member of the Fatah committee overseeing the UN bid, said on Sunday.

"We're already on the way to New York. We are very ready for this. All our papers are ready."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/201194145150327397.html


Palestinians Expect 140 Nations to Back Bid

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"About 140 countries are likely to support a Palestinian bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, according to Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath.

“Many Palestinian leaders and officials went on separate tours and visits to convince the world’s countries to recognize the Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967,” said Shaath, a senior official in Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction. His remarks in Ramallah today were broadcast on Palestinian television."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-04/palestinians-expect-140-countries-to-back-its-statehood-bid-shaath-says.html

[Scurrilous]

1. 'Palestinians have a strategy if statehood bid is vetoed'

Fatah official Nabil Shaath tells Ma'an: If September plans fail, Palestinians will seek to join all UN organizations, return to UNSC.

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"If the UN bid for Palestinian statehood should fail this month, Palestinian leadership would work first to gain membership to every UN organization and then resubmit their bid to the Security Council, senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath told the Ma'an news agency on Sunday.

The United States has made it clear that they would veto the vote later this month, making it impossible for the resolution to pass. However, the General Assembly could still upgrade the Palestinians' status from observer status to that of a non-member state. This change would allow them to join a number of UN bodies and conventions.

Shaath also said that he is confident that Europe will support the statehood bid, and that "Palestinians would not return to negotiations in light of the US and Israeli positions."

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=236625