Ahead of the EU-US summit in Washington later this month, the European Parliament has called on both sides to address "Palestinians' legitimate demand" at the United Nations.
In a resolution passed in a show of hands Thursday in Strasbourg, France, where the assembly holds its monthly session, MEPs called on the EU and the US to support emerging democracies in North Africa, push for a resumption of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and "address the legitimate demand of the Palestinians to be represented as a state at the United Nations as a result of negotiations within the UN framework".
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas applied for full UN membership on September 23 despite US and Israeli opposition.
Washington and Jerusalem insist that statehood can only be achieved through negotiations.
The EU parliament had previously asked the 27 EU states to be united on the issue of Palestinian statehood bid but European governments showed their divergences.
Four EU member states are sitting at the UN Security Council: Britain, France and Portugal said they would abstain if the 15-member world body votes on the application, while Germany is likely to vote against.
US President Barack Obama has warned he would veto a Security Council resolution backing Palestinian statehood. But no US. veto will in fact be necessary when it comes to a vote, because the Palestinian request lacks support from at least 9 of the 15 Security Council members needed to pass a resolution.

Strong pressure on Iran

In its resolution, the European parliament also said the EU and the US should maintain strong pressure on Iran, using all political, diplomatic and economic means, including sanctions, to deter and contain the threats that it poses to international security.
MEPs were responding to the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran which last week detailed Tehran’s drive to obtain nuclear weapons.