Riyad al-Malki
Riyad al-MalkiFlash 90

Palestinian Authority (PA) foreign minister Riyad al-Malki on Monday appraised that the PA will succeed in garnering enough UN Security Council votes to demand Israel withdraw from Judea and Samaria by a certain deadline.

"I will inform the Israelis of their diplomatic downfall in the Security Council before the start of next year," al-Malki told the Egyptian Al-Watan paper as cited by Walla!.

The PA minister added "I believe that we will achieve the nine votes of support needed in the Security Council."

There has been intense pressure on the PA not to push forward the UN resolution - including with alleged threats of cuts to US aid - but Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) secretary general Yasser Abed Rabbo said a decision was made last Wednesday to forge ahead and submit a draft of the resolution by the end of October.

That push for an Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria, despite it being the Biblical heartland of Israel and despite the fact that Israel's presence in the region is legal under international law, has recently been advanced by European states unilaterally giving recognition to "Palestine."

Sweden led the charge, pledging its commitment to recognize a Palestinian state three weeks ago on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. It was followed by the UK, which voted through a non-binding resolution of recognition last Monday.

Al-Malki was not satisfied with the vote, however, urging Britain to "immediately recognize the state of Palestine" officially.

Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said the vote in England "will enhance the European voices calling for the recognition of the State of Palestine and will create the right environment for the international community to grant the Palestinian people legal parity and rights."

Regarding that "environment" in Europe, which evidently is being cultivated ahead of the PA's UN push, Israeli experts have warned the UK vote may be a sign of increasing diplomatic warfare against Israel in Europe. Indeed, "frustrated" EU officials have threatened to level punitive measures against Israel, including a travel ban on "settlers" with any criminal history.