UK Will 'Abstain' On Palestine Vote

The UK looks likely to abstain in the vote to upgrade diplomatic status at the UN for Palestine.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK would not vote against the measure, but needed assurances Palestinians would work to negotiate with Israel.

The General Assembly is tasked with deciding whether to recognise Palestine as a non-member observer state.

Mr Hague said the UK would not vote against, but needed assurances that the Palestinians would seek negotiations with Israel "without pre-conditions". Otherwise, he said, the UK would probably abstain.

A yes vote is seen as likely in the 193-member UN General Assembly because it needs only a simple majority to pass.

Success for Palestine would be seen as a symbolic advance in its ambition for statehood.

William Hague has said in a statement certain conditions would be required if the UK was to back the move.

He said he would need assurance from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Palestine would return to negotiations.

Palestine would also have to agree not to seek membership of International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Up until the time of the vote itself, we will remain open to voting in favour of the resolution, if we see public assurances by the Palestinians on these points," the Foreign Minister said.

"However, in the absence of these assurances, the UK would abstain on the vote. This would be consistent with our strong support for the principle of Palestinian statehood, but our strong concern that the resolution could set the peace process back."

France, Spain and Norway are among the European countries expected to support the movement.

The US and Israel oppose the move, believing the Palestinians are trying to seek full statehood via the UN, rather than through negotiation.

(IT)