Ayalon: Israel trying to form UN bloc of 60 states

Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said Wednesday that Israel is trying to form a bloc of 60-70 states to oppose a Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN next month.

"The Palestinians enjoy an automatic majority but our strategy is to form collations of major powers," Ayalon told a conference of Jewish community leaders. He was referring to "First World countries which will not only vote according to conscience but according to the interest of stability and security in the Middle East." (Ronen Medzini)