Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (L) is welcomed by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini prior to attend a EU foreign affairs council at the European Council in Brussels, January 22, 2018. (AFP Photo)
RAMALLAH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Monday that his ministry will apply to the UN Security Council (UNSC) next February to get full UN membership for the state of Palestine and demand international protection for the people of Palestine under the Israeli occupation.
In statements to official Palestinian radio station (Voice of Palestine), Malki said that Palestine will urge the international community to honor their commitment to the UNSC resolution 2334 of December 2016, which pertains to Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestinians have been seeking full UN membership since 2011 and have been recognized with observer status since 2012.
Several meetings are already scheduled at the UN, including a closed UNSC session on Feb 20, tackling the situation in the Middle East, followed by an open session the next day.
Malki said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend a third UNSC session on Feb. 23 and is scheduled to discuss Middle East issues with high level officials.
Palestinians have been preparing for a donors meeting at Brussels, which is expected later this week, and a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers that is scheduled early February to discuss international action in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last December and in preparation of the Arab League summit next March.
