Palestine to Seek Statehood at UN General Assembly [UPDATE]
International leaders arrived in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, a week-long security council that started Monday.
One of the most anticipated items on the agenda is that the Palestinian delegation will make a formal request to be recognized as an independent state.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will seek UN membership in asking that the 1967 borders be recognized.
Although all parties are speaking of their hopes for peaceful negotiations, conflict still looms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a separate event that the Palestinian's request will "set back peace."
In bringing the request to an international forum, the Palestinians are forcing particularly the U.S. to make a publicized decision on whether to support or block the Palestinian effort, a decision which President Obama has confirmed will be a veto.
The U.S. has tried to remain in negotiation territory so as to side-step a full-on clash.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has attempted to delay a necessary U.S. veto by proposing new talks between the Palestinians and Israelis. The discussions failed.
The U.S. has expressed support of a Palestinian state, but has also consistently supported Israeli interests.
Other international leaders, including the U.K., are not revealing how they will vote at this point.
UPDATE: On Wednesday, a senate panel threatened to close the Palestine Liberation Organization's office in Washington if Palestinians defied the United States and Israel by pursuing their statehood at the United Nations.
The United States insisted that the statehood of Palestine depends on peace between them and Isreal. President Obama told U.N. leaders that "there are no shortcuts" to peace.
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