Palestinian UN bid gets boost from nonaligned

[August 04, 2012]  RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- The Palestinian foreign minister says top officials from 11 countries in the Non-Aligned Movement are coming to the West Bank this weekend to back a Palestinian push for international recognition.

The Palestinians seek U.N. General Assembly recognition of "Palestine" as an observer state, an upgrade they hope will firmly establish the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, captured by Israeli in 1967, as Palestinian territories.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Saturday the Palestinians count on overwhelming General Assembly support. Nearly two-thirds of U.N. member states are in the Non-Aligned Movement, and Palestinian officials say virtually all support them.

Members of the movement's Palestine Committee are to arrive in Ramallah on Sunday for a two-day meeting. They include Indonesia, Cuba, Malaysia and Bangladesh, countries that don't have ties with Israel.

[Associated Press]

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