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Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/26/us-palestinians-israel-un-analysis-idUSTRE78P0I220110926
Palestinian Initiative Faces Uphill Struggle in UN Security Council
(Reuters) Louis Charbonneau - The Palestinian initiative to seek UN recognition as a state, which goes to the Security Council on Monday, faces an uphill struggle to secure the nine votes needed for approval. Diplomats say the Palestinians have only six certain votes on the council - China, Russia, Brazil, Lebanon, India and South Africa. "If a vote was held today, the Palestinians wouldn't have enough votes to carry the day and the Americans wouldn't even need to use their veto," a Western diplomat told Reuters. The Europeans agree with Washington that the Palestinian UN bid is unwise and are inclined to oppose it. The council will take up the Palestinian membership application on Monday in closed-door consultations. Normally the council would take no more than 35 days to review a membership application, but the 35-day limit can easily be waived, Western diplomats say.