Top Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat is reporting today that the PA has decided to move forward with its long-promised UN bid, seeking a status-upgrade to “non-member state” status.
Now they are entering into talks with a number of Arab states at the UN, who will help them with the precise wording of the resolution, which is seen as virtually certain to pass the UN General Assembly, where the US cannot veto it.
Erekat says the decision to move forward came after talks with the US, as it became clear once again that the US stance has not changed on the stalled peace talks with Israel. The talks have been on hold since September of 2010, when Israel resumed the expansion of their settlements.
The US has issued a formal “warning” to all the governments of Europe warning them not to vote in favor of non-member state status for Palestine, threatening financial sanctions if the vote passes.
Israel also warned against pursuing the resolution, saying that obtaining “non-member state” status would harm the chances of Palestine ever becoming an independent nation, which Israel believes can only happen if the Israeli government officially confers that status on them.
