The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday he expects the UN General Assembly to legalize a Palestinian state later this week, paving the way for "serious negotiations" with Israel, dpa reported.
"It will be a historic event," Ambassador Ritad Mansour said at a news conference in advance of the meeting by the 193-nation assembly on Thursday.
Mansour said the Palestinian Authority has the votes to pass a resolution in the assembly creating a Palestinian state, including a "large number" of votes from European countries.
"The General Assembly will legalize the recognition of a state of Palestine," Mansour said.