Palestinians Still 2 Votes Short for UN Resolution

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — West Bank officials say the Palestinians don't yet have a majority in the U.N. Security Council for a resolution that would set a November 2016 deadline for ending Israel's occupation.

Taysir Khaled and Wasel Abu Yousef of the Palestine Liberation Organization said Thursday that they expect seven of 15 council members to back the resolution. They say France and Luxembourg are being courted to reach the needed nine votes.

The resolution sets a deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands to make way for a Palestinian state. The Palestinians consider a majority at the Security Council as a diplomatic victory even though the U.S. is likely to veto such a resolution.

It is not clear if the Palestinians will present the resolution at the Security Council without a majority.