Spain waits before deciding on Palestinian UN bid

Spain said Tuesday it will wait to see a formal proposal before deciding whether to back a Palestinian bid for enhanced UN status.

“We are waiting for a formal resolution to be presented. In the meantime we are talking with various countries,” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a news conference.

Rajoy, speaking alongside visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Madrid had always backed a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Erdogan was more forthright when asked about the Palestinian bid: “Of course we want the resolution on Palestine to be a ‘yes’,” the Turkish prime minister said.

The Palestinian bid will come before the United Nations General Assembly for a vote this week, just a year after a failed attempt to secure full state membership.

Earlier Tuesday, France became the first major European power to announce that it plans to vote in favour of Palestinian non-member status at the United Nations.

The move will boost Palestinian efforts for greater international recognition.