Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has confirmed that the Palestinian Authority will formally submit an application to the United Nations requesting full membership for a Palestinian state.
Speaking in Ramallah on September 16, Abbas said full UN status is a legitimate right for the Palestinian people.
His speech comes ahead of a meeting of the UN General Assembly next week. T
The country envisaged includes the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem -- areas occupied by Israel since 1967.
Israel and the United States oppose the move, and Washington has said it will veto the move in the UN Security Council.
Shortly after Abbas' remarks, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Palestinians would not achieve peace through a "unilateral" bid for UN membership.
Another condemnation of the announcement came from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the Gaza Strip.
compiled from agency reports
Speaking in Ramallah on September 16, Abbas said full UN status is a legitimate right for the Palestinian people.
His speech comes ahead of a meeting of the UN General Assembly next week. T
The country envisaged includes the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem -- areas occupied by Israel since 1967.
Israel and the United States oppose the move, and Washington has said it will veto the move in the UN Security Council.
Shortly after Abbas' remarks, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Palestinians would not achieve peace through a "unilateral" bid for UN membership.
Another condemnation of the announcement came from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the Gaza Strip.
compiled from agency reports
