The Palestinian Authority (PA) has declared that despite pressure from some Western countries, Palestinians will move ahead with a statehood bid at the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting.

"Whatever the pressures, we’re going to the UN," said acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday, Guardian, reported.

In addition, Abbas said, statehood would give the Palestinians greater leverage in fighting the Israeli occupation. "It means we will be a state under occupation. Israel now says [East al-Quds (Jerusalem) and the West Bank are] a disputed area and they can build settlements everywhere. They do not recognize that this is Palestinian territory. When we are a state, we will negotiate accordingly with the Israelis, of course with the support of the UN."

The Palestinian delegation is scheduled to arrive in New York on September 19.

"Everything is ready, everything is in hand," Abbas added.

Abbas went on to say that he would only reconsider his bid for recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN if a return to negotiations with the Israelis on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and a total freeze on the illegal settlement construction were offered.

(Press TV)