Palestinians Seeking UN Statehood to Get Same Rights as Pope
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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas won’t walk away from the United Nations General Assembly this month with the sought-after full statehood. More likely, he’ll get parity with the world’s smallest state, led by Pope Benedict XVI.
Support for the upgrade in Palestinian status at the UN from “entity” to “non-member state” is likely if the matter is brought to a vote in the 193-member assembly, where a two-thirds majority, or 129 votes, is required. The Obama administration for the first time confirmed today it will veto any resolution brought to the powerful UN Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state for full UN membership.