PA optimistic about UN statehood bid

The Palestinian leadership is to step up efforts to consolidate a UN statehood bid this September, Fatah Central Committee member Nabil Sha'ath said on Tuesday. Sha'ath also said that the Palestinian Authority has decided to set up a committee to manage all matters related to preparations for the September UN bid, according to Ma'an news agency. "There is no return or retreat from the UN step in September; the efforts from now until September will focus on maintaining the countries that recognized the Palestinian state and consolidating their positions in the face of Israeli and American pressure, and recruit an additional number of countries that support the Palestinian step at the UN," Sha'ath added. He said the committee would include PLO secretary-general Yasser Abed Rabbo and PA Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki, among other key figures. The Palestinian bid for statehood state is set to be recognized by 120 countries in September, including 115 countries that already fully recognize the Palestinian state.,