Israel sees huge backing for Palestinians at UN

Israeli daily Haaretz quoted on Sunday Israel's UN ambassador as expecting a massive vote for the Palestinians when they seek membership of the United Nations next month.
 
"Only a few countries will vote against the Palestinian initiative," envoy Ron Prosor wrote in a classified cable to the foreign ministry, a copy of which was leaked to the newspaper.
  
"The most that can be achieved is a group of states who will abstain or absent themselves during the vote," he wrote, adding that his comments were based on more than 60 meetings with other UN envoys.
  
The contents of Prosor's message were confirmed to AFP by an Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity.
  
Quoting a senior foreign ministry source, the paper said that only five countries had told Israel they would vote against the Palestinian bid: the United States, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
  
The ministry is expecting 130 to 140 of the 193 UN member countries to endorse Palestinian membership - a majority of more than two thirds. This, however, is still not enough to ratify an application for UN membership, which must be approved by the Security Council where Washington has pledged to use its veto against the initiative.