RAMALLAH, September 17, 2011 (WAFA) – US envoys David Hale and Denis Ross brought nothing new when they met President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, according to Nabil Shaath, member of Fatah Central Committee.

He said in a press conference in Ramallah on Saturday that the two officials had actually presented Abbas with a paper that included language worse than what has already been rejected by members of the quartet more than a month ago.

The paper, he said, indicated US acceptance of Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank as de-facto policy.

When Abbas saw this paper, said Shaath, he made up his mind that he was going to the United Nations Security Council to get full membership for the state of Palestine.

He said that Abbas will submit the application for membership to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after he finishes his speech at the General Assembly on Friday to pass it on to the president of the Security Council.

Shaath said the Palestinians were willing to start serious peace talks if Israel stops settlement activities and respect the terms of the signed agreements.

He said that the Security Council may discuss the Palestinian application within days or may take longer. If there is a delay by the Security Council, the Palestinians will go for a vote on nonmember state at the UN General Assembly.

He said he does not believe the donor countries will stop financing the Palestinian Authority if it proceeds with plans to ask for UN membership, stressing that the Arab countries may come to the rescue when needed.

R.Q./M.S.