After UNESCO vote, Palestinian: won't accept anything less than full UN member - eTaiwan News

The Palestinians will not accept anything less than a full member in the UN, the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said on Thursday.

"We do not want, after all of these struggles, sacrifices, and efforts by the entire Palestinian people, to accept an observer state in the United Nations. We will not accept less than we deserve: a full member state," al-Malki said.

Riyad al-Malki suggested that Palestinians would not seek observer state status. The PA currently holds the status of "observer entity" since 1974.

The UN Security Council is set to meet on Nov 11 to discuss whether to admit the PA as a member of the international organization.

It appears unlikely the Palestinians will succeed in their bid, given that the US has warned to veto it.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted Monday to grant Palestine a full membership. It has immediately drawn fierce criticism and sanctions from the United States and from Israel.

The US responded by freezing $60 million payment to UNESCO. Israel froze tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA and approved the settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank.

In the face of US and Israeli opposition, the PA defended their position. "If we join such an organization, join humanity on a good thing, how is that radicalization? Who are we harming?" said the PA's UN delegation, Riyad Mansour.

The PA applied for full UN membership for the state of Palestine on September 23. The request is now being considered by the Security Council, but the US has already pledged veto it.

The Palestinians would score a moral victory and force the US to veto if they can win nine votes in the council. Many diplomats believe the PA would get only eight votes from Russia, China, Brazil, India, Lebanon, South Africa, Gabon and Nigeria.