Palestine to bid for UN non-state membership this month: Abbas
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RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - The Palestinians will submit a bid to the General Assembly this month for non-state membership of the United Nations, despite US opposition, president Mahmud Abbas said on Sunday.
Mr Abbas also spoke out in favour of the exhumation of veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's body to establish the cause of his death and revealed Russia was involved in the efforts.
"We're going to the United Nations in November 2012, not 2013, or 2014," Mr Abbas said at an event commemorating the eighth anniversary of the death of Arafat.
"Israel's hysterical reaction to our UN bid is due to its desire to continue the occupation and we are under pressure of late from multiple parties to waive our just demand, but we will not," Mr Abbas added.
