Russia's UN envoy: Palestinians likely to get UN observer status

The Palestinians are likely to receive observer status at the UN rather than full membership, Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said. The United States has already said it will veto the Palestinian bid at a Security Council vote - the only route to full UN status. Approval by the UN General Assembly - where most member states support the Palestinians - would only provide observer status. Russia and China - two of the Security Council's permanent members with veto rights - are both ready to back the bid. "The Israelis and Americans tell us that if the Palestinians are accepted to the UN, almost the whole world will fall apart. We disagree," Churkin said. He added that international recognition of the Palestinians would "encourage the negotiation process". A special UN Security Council committee will gather on Friday for the first time to consider the Palestinian statehood bid, handed over to the United Nations by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week. Israel and the United States have expressed strong opposition to the "unilateral" move, which they say would jeopardize any future peace talks, and urged the Palestinians to immediately return to the negotiating table.