Palestinian chief negotiator says US has no reason to veto Palestinian bid to UN for statehood

Chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat called on the United States to reconsider its decision to veto a Palestinian bid for statehood in the United Nations in September, and stressed there was no reason for the US to withhold approval. "Israel has ruined the peace (process), and the United States must reconsider its stance on the matter," the Palestinian negotiator said.

Erekat criticized the US inability to revive peace talks, saying the US has no reason to veto the resolution for the establishment of a Palestinian state "after it failed to move the peace process forward or halt settlement building."

The Palestinian top negotiator added that PA President Mahmoud Abbas would be personally asking the United Nations for recognition of a future Palestinian state.

The Palestinian Authority plans to seek UN recognition in September after prolonged deadlock in peace talks.

Erekat's statement comes on the same day Abbas is to embark on a European tour in a bid to attain international endorsement of Palestinian statehood. Abbas will visit Norway, Spain and Turkey, Ma'an News Agency quoted a Palestinian official as saying.