Abbas says no basis for peace talks - UN statehood vote only option, fears US sanctions

The Arab League has formally agreed to seek full UN membership for a Palestinian state. PA President Abbas says no basis for talks with Israel after Netanyahu rejects Palestinian rights and aspirations.

The Palestinian president said on Saturday there were "no shared foundations" for peace talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and seeking UN recognition of Palestinian statehood was his only option.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, addressing an Arab League meeting in Doha, expressed concern that taking the diplomatic step opposed by the United States and Israel could result in financial sanctions and urged Arab states to fill any gap. more

The US is against recognition of a Palestinian state and intends to use its veto at the security council, but this will not stop a vote by an emergency session of the general assembly using resolution 377 - the so-called 'uniting for peace' resolution - if the security council 'fails to maintain world peace and security'.

UNITED NATIONS (Ma'an) -- Palestine cannot join the United Nations if the US vetoes its application, General Assembly President Joseph Deiss said Friday.

The 15-member Security Council must recommend Palestine for UN membership before the General Assembly can vote on the application, Deiss said.

Israel and Washington strongly oppose Palestinians' bid for UN membership, and the US is widely expected to use its Security Council veto to stop the move.

In his Mideast policy speech on May 19, US President Barack Obama urged Palestinians not to take "symbolic actions" at the UN in September, which he said would not create an independent state.

A PLO official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, suggested that Deiss was not familiar with the UN charter, and was acting as a European diplomat who sought a return to negotiations rather than in his capacity as General Assembly president.

PLO official Saeb Erekat has said Palestinians would activate UN resolution 377 if faced with a US veto in September.

The "Uniting for Peace" resolution states that if the Security Council fails to act to maintain world peace and security, the General Assembly should consider the matter in an emergency session. more

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