Abbas to ask U.N. for Palestine recognition

July 16, 2011 
UPI
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RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 16 (UPI) -- President Mahmoud Abbas will ask the United Nations to recognize Palestine as an independent country, a spokesman, Saeb Erekat, said Saturday.
In an interview with Maan Radio, Erekat, the Palestinians' chief negotiator with Israel, said reports the Arab League would submit the request were mistaken. Abbas, blaming Israel for the stalled peace process, plans to ask in September for recognition of an independent state based on Israel's 1967 borders. 
Erekat also said the United States should support the Palestinian move. The United States has said it would use its veto power on the Security Council to prevent U.N. recognition.
We can't see any justification for the U.S. vetoing our bid seeking statehood, and we call upon the U.S. administration to reconsider their decision objectively, especially after they failed to maintain the peace process and make Israel stop settlement activities, Erekat said.