UNITED NATIONS, Sept 27: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged UN General Assembly to prevent the occurrence of a new Nakba, (Catastrophe) in the Holy Land and grant Palestinians “non-member observer state” by the end of the year.

He said negotiations had begun with “regional organisations and member states” aimed at adopting a resolution making Palestine “a non-member state of the United Nations during this session”.

“In our endeavour,” he added, “we do not seek to delegitimise an existing state — that is Israel — but rather to assert the state that must be realised — that is Palestine.” Currently, the Palestine Liberation Organisation only has “permanent observer” status. Last year, a bid for full-member status failed because of a lack of support at the UN Security Council.

The change would allow Palestinians to participate in General Assembly debates. It would also improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court.

Palestinians will continue to seek full membership status, but they have begun “intensive consultations” with member states about having the Palestinian Authority become a non-member state, Abbas told the assembly.

Last year, the Palestinian Authority failed in its bid to win UN recognition as an independent state. In their latest initiative to seek nonmember observer status, the Palestinians are likely to submit the new resolution after the US presidential election on Nov 6 in an effort to prevent the issue from becoming political fodder.

“The occupying power is also continuing its construction and expansion of settlements in different areas throughout the West Bank,” he told the assembly.

Israel rejects a Palestinian state and refuses to end its occupation, Abbas said.

“I speak on behalf of an angry people,” he said. “Israel continues to enjoy impunity.”