Erekat warns against US veto

The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat has called for the US government to avoid using its veto power against Palestine’s UN statehood bid. Erekat said in an interview with ‘Voice of Palestine’ radio on Saturday morning that "if the United States uses its veto power against the Palestinian request for full UN membership, it will destroy the two-state solution.” He added that "anyone who claims to support the two-state solution must support the UN bid.” Erekat believes that the bid should not come as a surprise to the international community, as Palestinians community have long considered the UN bid a viable option. The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas confirmed on Friday that the plan will go ahead. This statement was quickly rejected by both Israel and the US. According to Erekat, "UN recognition will give Palestinians a state on the borders of 1967, and make East Jerusalem its capital.” However, Erekar claims that Palestinians have other options if the bid fails. “Among these options is to review the role of the Palestinian Authority to see whether its power has eroded.” "I know that Palestinians want to try other options, which is why we’re attempting to apply for UN membership." Work on other options will begin the day after the UN bid, September 24th. According to Erekat, if Palestine becomes a member of the UN, it will be considered an occupied state under international law, meaning that the Geneva Convention will unquestionably apply.