Palestinian official hopes UN Security Council vote on statehood next month

A Palestinian official on Saturday expressed hopes that the United Nations Security Council would vote on the U.N. membership of an independent Palestinian state next month. "We hope that our application would be put for voting on Nov. 11," said Mohammed Ishteya, a Palestinian negotiator. "At that time, all legal and administrative procedures would complete." The Palestinians need to muster nine votes in the 15-member council to secure their application to be processed and reach the stage of voting. Palestinian officials said they are sure that eight members will vote for the Palestinian request and they are trying to secure the ninth vote. Ishteya said the United States and Israel had exerted "huge efforts" to foil the Palestinian bid for the U.N. membership.