Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said on Monday he anticipates a “very difficult” situation after he approaches the UN to seek full membership for a Palestinian state later this week.
Speaking to reporters travelling with him to New York, Abbas admitted has been under international pressure over the contentious bid at the UN, which is opposed by Israel and the United States and which has split the European Union.
“The Palestinian people and their leadership will pass through very difficult times after the Palestinian approach to the United Nations through the Security Council to seek full membership for the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.
Abbas is to present his request for full membership after an address to United Nations on Friday after which it will be put before the Security Council, in a step which Washington has promised to veto.
Direct negotiations between the two sides have been frozen for the past year and the Palestinians are now in conflict with the Israel and the United States over their diplomatic campaign.
