Context
US envoys are expected to visit the Middle East in a last minute effort to stop the Palestine bid for UN membership in next week’s General Assembly meeting. The delegation led by US Middle East peace envoy David Hale and senior White House aide Dennis Ross will arrive this week in the region. Senior Palestine official Mohammed Shtayyeh has said his government was willing to listen to proposals, but suggested the talks would do little to dissuade the Palestine efforts.
The US and Israel oppose planned Palestine statehood bid in the UN, urging that talks of a state should be negotiated through direct peace talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
