Defying US pressure, and rejecting an appeal from President Barack Obama, the Palestinian leadership decided unanimously late Friday to go ahead with submitting a resolution to the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, DPA reported.
The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, and the Central Committee of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, called after Obama spoke with the Palestinian leader for 50 minutes Thursday night in an attempt to get the resolution withdrawn.
Abbas also spoke Friday with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, but let it be known he was determined to press ahead with the resolution, which denounces Israel's settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories and calls on Israel to stop construction in all the settlements.
The US is expected to veto the motion when it comes for a vote at the Security Council, expected late Friday or Saturday.
"We hope the US will not obstruct the international will," PLO Executive Committee Secretary Yasser Abbed Rabbo told reporters after the meeting Friday night, pointing out that the proposed resolution had the support of the majority of UN members.
Clinton told reporters Thursday that the US had "consistently, over many years, said that the United Nations Security Council and resolutions that would come before the Security Council are not the right vehicle to advance" peace negotiations between the parties which aimed at a two-state solution.
The US reportedly tried to persuade Abbas to withdraw the proposed resolution in favour of a non-binding one condemning settlement activity, and offering a package of incentives.
These include more US pressure on Israel to cease settlement construction, a sharply worded statement against settlements - from the Middle East Quartet, or Obama himself, the Israeli Ha'aretz daily reported.
Another incentive, would be support for Russia's proposal that representatives of security council member states visit the West Bank to express support for the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinians have said they will not resume stalled peace talks until and unless Israel halts construction at its settlements.