Palestinian official visits Ankara for talks on statehood bid

Nabil Shaath, a senior official in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah, will discuss Palestinian efforts for recognition of statehood at the UN General Assembly later this month, as well as regional issues, Anatolia news agency said, quoting Turkish diplomatic sources.

In recent remarks, Shaath said the Palestinian Authority expected about 140 countries to support Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly.

Turkey has already declared support for the Palestinian bid and is expected to intensify its efforts for international recognition of Palestinian statehoood amid a sharp deterioration in its relations with Israel.

Turkey decided to expel senior Israeli diplomats and suspended military agreements after Israel refused to apologize for a deadly raid on an aid ship trying to breach the Israeli blockade of Gaza on May 31, 2011. Turkey also said it does not recognize the Israeli blockade and it would seek an International Court of Justice review of the blockade.