Brussels, 06/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Israeli minister for foreign affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, has called Israel's 27 ambassadors in Europe to an emergency meeting in Vienna this week, which is to be dedicated to the initiative of the Palestinian Authority of requesting recognition of Palestine as a non member state of the United Nations, Lieberman's spokesperson announced on Tuesday 6 November. “The ambassadors will try to define a new diplomatic action with the Europeans aiming to counter this initiative, and Mr Lieberman will travel to Vienna for this purpose”, he said (our translation).
The previous day, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat had said that the Palestinians will not go back on their decision. The secretary general of the Arab League, Nabil el Arabi, said that the ministers from his organisation will meet in Cairo on 12 November to discuss the issue and will be joined the following day by representatives from the EU.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has not taken position on the status question but recalled that the EU supports the efforts in the context of negotiations, adding that only the resolution of open questions can resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A simple majority at the UN General Assembly is needed for Palestine to obtain its status. (CG/transl.fl)