Abbas to make 2nd attempt at Palestinian UN membership

The United Nations will be called upon Thursday to recognize Palestine as a non-member state of the world body, the second time Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pushed the issue of UN recognition in as many years. The previous attempt - which called for the UN to recognize a Palestinian state as a full UN member - failed after it became clear it would not receive majority backing in the Security Council. This attempt, however, is likely to be more successful, since Abbas is asking only for non-member status. Furthermore, the request will be presented to the General Assembly, where a majority of countries are likely to provide backing, according to a report of dpa. A two-thirds majority of the General Assembly's 193 members is needed to pass any resolution accepting Palestine as a non-member state. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat estimated last week that 150 to 170 would support the request. 'We are determined, in spite of all the pressures, to win recognition of our state,' Abbas wrote on his official Facebook page. The upgrade would grant Palestine all the rights of a full member, with the exception of voting.