The Palestinian Authority (PA) says it will not abandon its plans of requesting the United Nations to recognize Palestine as a full member state despite Israel's obstructionist efforts. On Wednesday, the PA's chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat, said, "The Palestinian train is now heading towards New York," referring to the organization's intentions to present the membership request at the UN General Assembly in September, AFP reported.
Erakat dismissed as a mere public relations stunt the recent statements by an Israeli official who alleged that Tel Aviv was inclined to renew talks with the Palestinians if they drop their UN membership bid.
Erakat made the comments during a session of a committee tasked by the regional grouping of the Arab League (AL) to assist the Palestinians' UN membership efforts.
The committee also endorsed a final draft of the Palestinian request.
Erakat also said the committee has “reached a final agreement to request the full support for a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders."
In 1967, Israeli forces captured the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
The Israeli military carried out a so-called withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, but has kept the territory under recurrent deadly attacks. In June 2007, the Israeli regime laid an economic siege on the Gaza Strip after the democratically-elected Hamas took over the administration of the enclave.
The blockade has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished territory.
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