THE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT has confirmed that he will ask the UN Security Council to recognise the State of Palestine when he visits New York next week.

The move could prompt a US veto in the council. Israel and Washington both oppose a full membership and the US has previously threatened to veto any such requests.

Mahmoud Abbas outlined the details of the bid for statehood in a televised speech in the West Bank city of Ramallah today. However, he said that people should not be too optimistic.

Any UN action will not end Israeli occupation, he added.

Israel and Washington say that a Palestinian state must be delivered through negotiations.

Abbas said a “sovereign, independent state” is the “legitimate right” of the Palestinian people, according to Al Jazeera.

The President is expected to hand in the application to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, ahead of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Abbas will be acting in his capacity as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and not as the head of the Palestinian Authority. He is also due to deliver a speech to the General Assembly.

-Additional reporting by the Associated Press