Foreign Ministry: UN majority for Palestine

Palestinians elicit support of nine Security Council members for UN bid, officials in Jerusalem estimate; persuasion efforts continue, majority would force United States to use veto power

Roi Semioni|Published: 09.20.11 , 16:44

With Gabon and Nigeria set to endorse the Palestinian statehood bid at the Security Council, the Palestinian Authority will achieve a majority in the upcoming vote on the issue, Foreign Ministry officials estimated Tuesday afternoon.

A majority of nine out of the 15 Security Council members would force the United States to impose a veto on a Palestinian statehood decision.

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Officials in Jerusalem now believe that both Gabon and Nigeria, which previously debated their vote, will support the Palestinians while Bosnia, another swing state, is expected to abstain.

Despite being a Muslim State, Bosnia is highly interested in being affiliated with the West and is therefore still debating.

The Palestinians have said previously that China, Russia, Lebanon, South Africa, Brazil and India will be endorsing their bid. Portugal is also estimated to support the PA.

For full coverage of PA's statehood bid, click here

A senior Foreign Ministry source told Ynet: "The pressure is mostly being exerted by the US, which is trying to influence the vote. We are helping wherever possible." American officials are engaging in persuasion efforts in order to forego the need to impose a veto.

Earlier, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas already said that nine states support the bid. However, in an interview with the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat Abbas said that he is aware that pressure is being exerted on some states. "We don't know if they will change their positions," he said

Ronen Medzini contributed to the story