UN to Vote Thursday on Raising Palestinian Status

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS
The Palestinians say the U.N. General Assembly will vote Thursday afternoon on a resolution raising their status at the United Nations from an observer to a nonmember observer state.

The spokesman for the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the 193-member world body before the resolution is put to a vote.

Approval would give the Palestinians the same status at the U.N. as the Holy See.

There are no vetoes in the General Assembly and the resolution, which needs a majority vote for approval, is virtually certain to be adopted.

The mission’s spokesman, speaking on condition he was not named, said Monday the Palestinians are urging all countries to support the resolution and “be on the right side of history.”