Palestinians likely to ask UN GA for statehood

A Palestinian legislator says President Mahmoud Abbas will likely ask the United Nation's General Assembly to vote on recognizing Palestine in November.

Abbas will call on the General Assembly to accept his country as an observer state to the United Nations when he's expected to speak on Thursday.

Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said Tuesday that Abbas is likely to ask for the General Assembly to vote on the matter in November, which would allow time to draft a proposal and ensure majority support. Abbas has also said he wants to put off a vote until after U.S. elections to avoid entangling the Palestinian statehood bid in presidential politics.

Palestinians gained membership last year in UNESCO, the Paris-based U.N. cultural agency, over the objections of Israel and the U.S.