Abbas intent on UN decision

Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS

French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged the Palestinians on Tuesday to drop their bid for U.N. membership and opt instead for upgraded status in the world body, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remained determined to pursue international recognition of an independent state.

Diplomats close to the talks said Sarkozy would outline today his proposal for the Palestinians to seek approval in the General Assembly, where no member holds a veto, for a resolution that would make Palestine a nonmember observer state, raising their status from that of permanent observer.

Such a move would avoid a certain U.S. veto if the Palestinian membership bid were put to a vote in the Security Council. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity.

With Abbas determined to seek membership rather than upgraded status, the Palestinian delegation relentlessly knocked on diplomatic doors at the U.N. trying to sell their case for international recognition. Israel’s prime minister, meanwhile, issued dire warnings against hasty action as he boarded his jet for New York.

The issue of the unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood, born of decades of frustration and failed negotiations with Israel, has consumed diplomats who are gathering for today’s opening of the annual U.N. General Assembly ministerial meeting.

Abbas plans to submit an application for full U.N. membership Friday when he speaks to assembled world leaders.

The White House said late Tuesday that President Barack Obama would meet with Abbas on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering today. Obama’s diplomatic team has repeatedly said the United States, Israel’s closest ally, would exercise its Security Council veto should the Palestinians win the necessary nine of 15 votes in the powerful body to adopt a resolution recommending U.N. membership for Palestine.