RAMALLAH, September 6, 2011 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Authority is going to the United Nations to ask for membership in spite of the pressure and objections based on international references, starting with UN partition of Palestine resolution 181, Tuesday said PLO Executive Committee secretary Yasser Abed Rabbo.

He told reporters in Ramallah that he doubts that the United States special envoy for Middle East peace, David Hale, will bring anything new when he meets the Palestinian leadership on Wednesday.

“The US is trying to save what can be saved, but all signs point to the fact that Hale is not bringing with him any serious new thing that would re-launch the peace process,” he said. “We do not know what they are bringing with them other than threats, ultimatums and financial boycott.”

He said that the Palestinian Authority is going to ask the UN to recognize the Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip within the lines that existed in June 1967 before Israel’s occupation, which will be the border of the State of Palestine.

“Any adjustments would be mutual, limited and within the frame of negotiations,” he said.

He said that “constructive and legitimate political methods will be utilized to prevent a veto, but this will be left to the political tactics we will resolve to.”

He added, “Going to the General Assembly will be in a wider political frame and we can add to the state borders a definitive stance against the settlement activities deeming it illegal and not only demanding to stop it. We will demand from the international community that any future negotiations should be based on these borders, the illegality of settlement and a precise time frame.”

He said that “there are European and international suggestions to go the General Assembly instead of the Security Council to seek full membership and to upgrade Palestine’s representation from merely being an observer to a state observer, which will qualify us to join all UN organizations. We have not said yes to this proposal.”

Abed Rabbo said there was complete coordination with the European group on this matter, referring to the importance of the European stance on a political and moral level.

M.G./M.A.