The UN Security Council’s vote on the Palestinian independence bid is slated for Wednesday, September 28th, chairman of the council Nawaf Salam said. Russia is going to support Palestine, as it has once again been confirmed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the course of his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The two also discussed the situation in Libya, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the Russian diplomat will speak as part of the General Assembly’s political debate.

Head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas handed over his country’s appeal for fully-fledged UN membership to Ban Ki-moon back on Friday, with first discussions held on September 26th . Diplomats leaving the session said that was just a technical procedure before submitting the Palestinian appeal for UNSC consideration. The vote itself will take place in the early morning hours of September 27th to reach the final decision on the Palestinian fate. However, it is already clear that the PNA will fail to attain what it wants.

To become an independent state, Palestine needs the support of all of the five permanent Security Council members - Russia, the US, China, Great Britain and France. This will be next to impossible in view of Washington’s intention to use its right of veto. In fact, the US will thus deny the Palestinian nation its right of self-determination. London and Paris are also unlikely to back Abbas and will most probably block the adoption of the final decision. However, any of the Security Council’s member states may recommend the General Assembly to admit the PNA to the United Nations. Such an initiative is expected to be voiced by Lebanon, the UNSC’s rotational president. In this case, Palestine will be only granted the status of an observer country, which would nevertheless be a considerable step forward. Mahmoud Abbas’ appearance before the General Assembly explicitly demonstrated that this option will enjoy nearly absolute support, given that the Palestinian leader was applauded by everyone except for the delegations of the US and Israel.

Russia has long ago recognized Palestine and does not see any problems with backing its appeal to the UN, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“We would prefer to see the issue resolved by consensus. There are also suggestions that they ask the UN General Assembly not for membership, but for an observer state status. But we cannot impose this or that decision on them: the Palestinians have come a long way, they were promised many times that in a year or a year and a half, the problem would be solved,” stressed Mr. Lavrov.

The main thing, according to the Russian diplomat, is that Palestine resumes its talks with Israel after becoming an independent state to finally help the Middle East peace process out of the deadlock.

Another top-ranking official to speak in favor of a prompt settlement of all procedural matters in the Security Council was Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad Mansour. According to him, nine of all the council’s both permanent and non-permanent members have already recognized Palestinian statehood, namely Russia and China with their right of veto, as well as Lebanon, Brazil, South Africa, Gabon, Columbia, India and Nigeria. Mr. Mansour believes the entire procedure of considering the Palestinian bid will take two weeks or so.

Meanwhile, Palestine is not only supported at the UN Headquarters in New York but also beyond. On September 23rd, when hundreds of journalists and diplomats applauded Mahmoud Abbas at the General Assembly session, a group of Palestinians approached the building aboard several motor boats, streamed their country’s flags and chanted words of approval and support. Their endeavors were slightly hampered by fog and guards who drove them back from the shore. There was also a rally of Hasids opposed to Palestinian statehood in front of the UN building. On Monday, they were replaced by those seeking Tibetan independence and members of the Syrian opposition demanding a Libyan-type no-fly zone over their country. Tweet