Abbas confirms Palestinians will seek statehood at United Nations
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 September 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Abbas confirms Palestinians will seek statehood at United Nations, 16 September 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e8973e228.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 16, 2011
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas
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
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
