A top official says Palestinians have done all the legal work necessary to join 63 UN agencies, conventions and treaties, but haven't applied yet mainly to give the U.S. peace effort a chance to succeed, according to The Associated Press.
Chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday, May 20, that Palestinians have done "everything" to enable President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to succeed, and "there is a good opportunity now."
Kerry is heading to the Mideast this week to advance his two-month effort to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in November to upgrade the Palestinians from UN observer to non-voting member state, but have not begun seeking membership for Palestine in UN agencies — a move opposed by both Israel and the United States.
