Palestinian officials to discuss statehood bid at U.N., envoy says

By Mick B. Krever, CNN

U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour said he hopes Palestinian President Abbas will make an announcement Monday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

U.N. envoy hopes Palestinian President Abbas will make an announcement Monday
Palestinians are frustrated over stalled negotiations with Israel
They are expected to seek "observer state" status at the U.N.
The upgraded status would give Palestinians greater access to U.N. agencies

United Nations (CNN) -- A top Palestinian official declined to predict Friday the timing and route for upgraded recognition at the United Nations, but said that his leadership will meet in Cairo on Monday to discuss a course of action.

Frustrated with stalled negotiations with Israel, Palestinians plan to appeal to U.N. member states to recognize their territories as an independent country.

U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour said Friday that he hopes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will make an announcement in Cairo on Monday.

"One state has been in existence since 1948, the other state is on the eve of becoming independent," Mansour said.

The Palestinians currently have non-state observer status at the United Nations.

Because of a guaranteed American veto in the U.N. Security Council, the Palestinian territories would not be able to gain full membership to the U.N.

"It should not come as a shock to anyone in this room that the U.S. opposes a move in New York by the Palestinians to try to establish a state that can only be achieved through negotiations," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "So yes, if something comes to a vote in the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. will veto."

Instead, the Palestinian Authority is expected to go to the General Assembly, where it could get "observer state" status, similar to the position that the Vatican currently holds. A vote in its favor is all but assured.

"Some of the members of the United Nations, important members, it seems to me that they're coming to the realization that this is not theatric, because this is real," Mansour said.

The upgraded status would give the Palestinians greater access to U.N. agencies, including possibly the International Criminal Court, where it could make criminal claims against Israel.

The Obama administration has expressed concern that Palestinian action at the United Nations could intensify conditions on the ground and delay already-stalled negotiations with Israel.

"Our objective is not to intensify with anyone or to isolate anyone, or to de-legitimize anyone," Mansour said. "Our objective is to legitimize our rights and to advance the cause of the two-state solution."

The State Department sent two diplomatic envoys to the region this week in an attempt to persuade the Palestinians to abandon their effort for U.N. recognition. The Palestinians rebuffed the U.S. efforts, saying there is no alternative.