'Lebanon to recognize Palestinian state in next few days'

Lebanese media reports say Abbas planning to visit Lebanon in coming weeks to discuss int'l recognition of Palestinian state.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
PA President Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Chip East)
PA President Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Chip East)
Lebanon is set to recognize a Palestinian state "in the next few days," Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported Saturday.
According to the report, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Lebanon in the middle of the month for two days during which he will meet with Lebanese president Michel Sleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
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The Lebanese Daily Star on Saturday quoted sources telling the International Middle East Media Center that Sleiman requested that Abbas visit Lebanon for talks over international recognition of a Palestinian state.
According to the report, however, there has been no official statement released regarding Abbas' visit.
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As Palestinian officials prepare to ask for United Nations recognition of statehood in September, PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Palestinians' application to the UN was a positive development for the peace process, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday.
"Our request for UN permanent membership for the Palestinian State with 1967 borders and capital as Jerusalem doesn't aim at any kind of confrontation or conflict but it is only to maintain the option of two states and to preserve the peace process," Erekat said.
Erekat was speaking after meeting Arab League representatives in Doha, Qatar as part of a two-day meeting to lay the final touches on the PA’s statehood application to the UN.
The meeting comes as the PA leadership in Ramallah continues to face pressure from the US and EU to abandon its statehood plan and return to the negotiating table with Israel.