Ramallah: A Palestinian spokeswoman says a bid to seek UN recognition of a state of Palestine in Israeli-occupied lands is a last-ditch attempt to rescue the troubled Mideast peace efforts.
Hanan Ashrawi, a senior official with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, urged the US on Wednesday to drop its opposition to the bid, calling Washington`s stance "pathetic" and harmful to American interests in the Arab world.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to ask the UN General Assembly on Thursday to recognize Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967. Overwhelming approval is likely, while the US, Israel and a few others are opposed.
Ashrawi says the Palestinians withstood intense US pressure to drop the bid.
PTI
