EU seeks limited upgrade of Palestinians' UN status

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The European Union hopes to persuade Palestinian leaders to drop their plans for full United Nations membership this month in return for a nuanced upgrading of their UN observer status, EU diplomats said on Thursday.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, went to the Middle East this week to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians with the aim of reviving peace talks and averting a Palestinian statehood bid at the UN General Assembly, which begins its annual gathering on September 21.

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France, in particular, appears to be more receptive to the Palestinians' arguments, whereas Germany opposes unilateral declarations without a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

To succeed, Ashton would have to persuade U.S. diplomats to get on board. Washington has said that if the Palestinians ignore entreaties and seek full membership status, it will use its veto in the UN Security Council.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/eu-seeks-limited-upgrade-of-palestinians-un-status-1.384672

[Jefferson23]

1. I was not aware of this:

The aide noted that the General Assembly probably would not vote on such a membership upgrade resolution until early October, keeping the door open for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and a meeting between Netanyahu and Abbas.


Is that accurate..probably would not, now they'll wait until October?

[bemildred]

2. Don't know, but it seems reasonable to me.

There would be a process, it would take some time.