Who are the key players in the Palestinian Authority's bid for UN membership? What do they want, and what is the UN likely to back? We've compiled the positions on this issue of some of the crucial players.
MAHMOUD ABBAS - PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
Fatah rules the West Bank and fronts the Palestinian Authority (PA) - it is the key player behind the push for the vote. Its leader Mahmoud Abbas is seeking to lodge a formal request for full UN membership of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 lines (the six-day war), including both Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Israeli-annexed Arab east Jerusalem. PA President Mahmoud Abbas says he is frustrated with the lack of progress with Israel and is seeking to delegitimise the occupation, not Israel.
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The bid would be put to the 15-nation Security Council in the hope that nine countries back it, and is likely to happen in New York after September 20th, possibly on September 23rd. The US, as one of five permanent members with the right of veto, says it will use its veto. International diplomats say Mr Abbas has made few of the details of his demands available.
Should this fail, Fatah is likely to go to the General Assembly for enhanced observer membership of the UN. The Palestinian Territories currently have observer status as an 'entity' – but the resolution on enhanced observer membership in line with that enjoyed by the Vatican includes the word 'state'. Significantly, it would then have access to the International Criminal Court.
ISMAIL HANIYA - HAMAS
Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip but is classed as a terrorist organisation by a number of countries, including Australia, does not directly support the bid of its rival Fatah for statehood.
Hamas's leader Ismail Haniya, often referred to as Hamas's PM, says Fatah does not have the right to sacrifice Palestinian rights, including making concessions on Palestinian land or the right of return for Palestinian refugees, AFP reported.
Haniya says Hamas supports the establishment of a Palestinian state on any part of 'historical Palestine' but would not seek to disrupt the UN bid.
'We are with the establishment of a Palestinian state on any liberated part of Palestinian land that is agreed upon by the Palestinian people, without recognising Israel or conceding any inch of historical Palestine', he said.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU - ISRAELI PM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said peace 'can only be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel' and any bid to the Security Council was bound to fail.
The Haaretz newspaper cited a statement from his office which read:'When the Palestinian Authority will abandon its futile measures, firstly its unilateral decision to approach the UN, it will find Israel as a partner for negotiations and peace.'
He has called the 1967 borders 'indefensible,' insisting there would not be a peace agreement without the Palestinians first recognising Israel as the 'Jewish state', AFP reported.
The Israeli government has threatened to not pass on any tax revenues collected on the Palestinian Authority's behalf.
SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
The Security Council is made up of five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the US and the UK, and 10 non-permanent members. It's here that the initial bid for statehood will be put.
Hilary Clinton - US Secretary of State
The US says it will block Fatah's bid for statehood, using its veto in the Security Council. The US is one of five permanent members that has the right to do so.
The US, Israel's staunchest supporter, says it would be counter-productive for the Palestinians as the Israelis would withdraw all cooperation for the peace process.
'We believe strongly that the road to peace and two states living side by side does not go through New York, it goes through Jerusalem and Ramallah', news agency AFP reported Secretary of State Hilary Clinton as saying.
In addition to this, the US has said that all funding to the Palestinian Authority – channeled through Fatah – will be withdrawn if the vote is even held, let alone 'successful.'
Russia has said it will back the Palestinian bid, as will China. France has not made its intentions clear, bu the French foreign minister has said he wants to avoid a 'confrontation.'
The UK has not come out with a stance, but reports in the British press say London is likely to either vote against or abstain in the face of US pressure.
Non-permanent members
Non permanent members are currently Bosnia Herzegovina, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, India, South Africa, Colombia, Lebanon, Gabon and Nigeria.
Germany is said to be opposed, while South Africa, India and Lebanon will reportedly support the PA. Brazil, Bosnia Herzegovina, Gabon and Portugal are thought to be possible 'yes' votes. This means that the necessary nine votes are likely – although the US is set to wield its veto.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
There are 193 member states in the UN, including Australia. For the success of the enhanced observer status bid, a majority must back Fatah's bid – a feat widely regarded as likely.
TONY BLAIR - MIDDLE EAST QUARTET
The Quartet on the Middle East has been involved in mediating between Israel and the Palestinians, made up of the UN, the US, the EU and Russia.
Its Special Envoy to the Middle East, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the Quartet wanted 'a way of avoiding a confrontation, a showdown.' Blair is seeking a deal before the vote which would increase recognition of the Palestinians and allow them 'to come to the United Nations, to advance their aspirations for statehood that also at the same time allows us to develop a framework for negotiations so that they get back to talking.'
He is seeking a 'framework of reference for the negotiations... (and) some sense of a timeframe - a timeline if you like - for successful negotiations.'
PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL - SAUDI ARABIA
A former ambassdor to Washington of this key Gulf ally - Prince Turki al-Faisal - has said that if the US uses its veto, its relationship with the oil-producing giant will be downgraded, the 'special relationship' will end, and the US will be 'toxic' in the Arab world.
AUSTRALIA
A key player? Probably not. Yet Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has asked Julia Gillard to abstain from voting in the General Assembly to avoid any controversy. The PM would not comment at the time (August) but says she is a backer of a two-state solution, adding that the only way to achieve this is for the PA to engage in direct talks with Israel..
How do you feel about the Palestinian Authority's bid for statehood? Have your say here.
