Nabil Shaath said he expects 140 countries to recognize and vote for a Palestinian state at UN

Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath said Sunday that he expects 140 countries to recognize and vote for a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly's 66th meeting, due to be held on September 23.

During a press conference held Sunday at Fatah's foreign relations commission, Shaath stated that the focus in coming days is to increase the number of countries recognizing Palestine to secure membership as the world's 194th state.

At present, 125 countries recognize Palestine, he added.

“We do not fear sanctions, and those who impose sanctions to prevent us from heading to the UN will impose them later for other reasons, but we do not pay attention to such threats because they are illegal and lack legitimacy," Shaath said.

"These threats mark violations to international law, because on what basis are we being threatened just because we face the world?”

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will meet with members of Fatah's revolutionary council in Ramallah on Sunday to brief members about the latest developments.

Shaath further explained that it would be "shameful to punish a people whose only fault is seeking to obtain its rights," saying that the UN bid does not contradict negotiations.

"Israel will have hard times trying to justify to its people waging war against us because we seek our rights, and if Israel chooses the violent path, they will have to be responsible before the world for the consequences,” he concluded.