'UNSC may vote on PA statehood bid in early November'

[Jefferson23]

By REUTERS AND JPOST.COM STAFF
19/10/2011

Diplomats say that a scheduled meeting could end with a vote on the Palestinian application for full UN membership.



UNITED NATIONS - The Palestinian quest for UN membership is likely to come to a head on or around Nov. 11, when Security Council ambassadors plan a final meeting to decide their response, diplomats said on Wednesday.

The date represents a delay in dealing with the Palestinian application, submitted by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sept. 23, amid hopes that indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks scheduled for next week could get a peace process off the ground.

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The Nov. 11 meeting could result in a vote by the divided council, diplomats said. The United States, which supports its ally Israel in strongly opposing the membership bid, is considered certain to veto it but the Palestinians may seek a vote anyway if they can show majority support in the council.


in full: http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=242427

[Scurrilous]

1. Palestinians plan "other options" if UN bid fails

<snip>

"Palestinians want the Security Council to decide on their bid for full U.N. membership soon so they can pursue "other options," the Palestinian U.N. envoy said, repeating charges that Washington is procrastinating to avoid a vote.

Riyad Mansour, in comments to a Palestinian newspaper, did not say what the Palestinians would do once their bid for U.N. membership reached its conclusion. It is widely expected that the bid will fail because of U.S. opposition.

However, Palestinian officials have said that failure at the Security Council would push them to seek an upgrade in their U.N. status to that of a "non-member state," something they can secure from the General Assembly without Security Council approval.

The Palestinians currently hold the status of an "observer entity" at the United Nations.

"We are serious about this application and we want it to reach its logical conclusion in the hope that we succeed," Mansour told Al-Ayyam newspaper in remarks published on Thursday."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/palestinians-israel-un-idUSN1E79J1TU20111020

[Jefferson23]

2. Good for them.

The United States procrastinating to avoid a vote? Oh my.

on edit/spelling

[Jefferson23]

3. Palestinians to push for UN membership Nov. 11

PA is making final efforts to gain support for its UN bid ahead of Security Council vote; Ramallah reportedly to ask Hamas to hold elections

AP and Elior Levy Published: 10.20.11, 23:21 / Israel News


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intends to ask Hamas to hold elections in the Palestinian Authority in January, Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said on Thursday.

In an interview with Time Magazine, Abu Rudeina said that Abbas and Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal are scheduled to meet in the beginning of November to discuss the proposal.

Meanwhile, Palestinian diplomats are trying to muster support for a UN Security Council vote in New York on November 11 on their bid for membership in the global body.

UN diplomats said earlier this week that a Security Council committee considering the membership bid would deliver a report on that day, and that ambassadors would then decide on the next steps.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4137096,00.html


on edit to add:

Published: 10.20.11, 23:00 / Israel News


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said that he intends to ask Hamas to hold elections in the Palestinian Authority in January. "As per the law, elections must be announced 30 days ahead of time," he said.

In an interview with Time Magazine, Abu Rudeina said that Abbas and Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal are to meet in the beginning of November to discuss the proposal. (Elior Levy)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/1,7340,L-4137190,00.html