Diplomats have said that the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on Friday on a Palestinian request for full UN membership in a move that Israel’s ally the United States is expected to block because it would effectively recognise a Palestinian state.

The 15-member council is due to vote at 3pm on a draft resolution that recommends to the 193-member UN General Assembly that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations”, diplomats said.

Read the full Reuters report here.