From: Russia Today
http://rt.com/news/abbas-palestinian-bid-un-233/
Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has submitted an official bid to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for Palestinian admission to the United Nations as a full member.
Ban Ki-moon accepted the application, aimed at Palestine being recognized as an independent state, and promised to immediately present it to the UN Security Council, which will then consider it and pass it on to the General Assembly.
This comes despite US promises to veto Palestine's bit for statehood in the United Nations. The US is insisting that the Palestinian state should only be formed as a result of negotiations between the Palestinian leadership and Israel.
Earlier, the Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, told journalists that the Palestinian application could stall the negotiation process between the two sides.
Watch Mahmoud Abbas addressing the United Nations General Assembly LIVE
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Last updated: September 23, 2011
5:30 pm
Abbas bids for Palestinian statehood
By Barney Jopson at the United Nations and Roula Khalaf in London
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, defied a week of fierce diplomatic resistance on Friday to push Palestine's bid for recognition as an independent state by filing an official application for United Nations membership.
Mr Abbas handed a letter to Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, calling for the Security Council to vote on whether to give the Palestinians statehood, acting on a vow that was sharply criticised by the US and European states and has enraged Israel.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a30845ce-e5ff-11e0-b196-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1YnJs...
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Friday 23 September 2011
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asks the United Nations to recognise a state for his people.
United Nations (UN) spokesman Farhan Haq said Mr Abbas had handed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a letter requesting full UN membership.
The security council must now consider the request, although it could take time.
Mr Abbas took the step even though Israel still occupies Palestinian territory and the United States has vowed to veto the country's bid for statehood.
Mr Abbas told reporters: "It is not a secret that the US administration has done everything it could to prevent us from going [to the United Nations].
http://www.channel4.com/news/palestine-bids-for-statehood-at-un
http://rt.com/on-air/palestinians-rally-support-un-bid/