Mahmoud Abbas was never popular with the Palestinian people. Yet his “stalwart” UN speech moved many to accept the UN bid for Palestine statehood if not purely for the initiative, then for the internationalization of the conflict as a springboard toward a so-called just solution. Read more about Mahmoud Abbas: the Second Coming 

The Electronic Intifada has obtained a copy of the full text of the application for UN membership for the “State of Palestine” presented yesterday by Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Read more about Full text of "State of Palestine" UN application letter and documents 

A group of six young people in Gaza decided to voice out their view over Abbas’s pursuit of a Palestinian state in the UN. Two of the six, volunteered to videotape the discussion and the four managed to overcome their tension that encapsulated them in front of a huge camera. Read more about Young People in Gaza Discuss UN Statehood Bid 

Does the Palestinian Authority’s UN bid advance or undermine Palestinian rights? Ali Abunimah of The Electronic Intifada and Mouin Rabbani of the Institute for Palestine Studies and the webzine Jadaliyya discuss its merits on Democracy Now. Read more about Does UN bid advance Palestinian struggle? Ali Abunimah and Mouin Rabbani on Democracy Now! 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled by Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah has ordered all mosques to join its campaign in support of Abbas and the PA’s bid for UN membership. Read more about Palestinian Authority orders mosques to praise Abbas, UN bid 

The first ever Model UN conference in Palestine has had to be postponed due to the rising threat of violence by Israeli settlers. Read more about Mounting settler violence forces Palestinian youth to postpone first ever Model UN