The Arab League has voiced support for the Palestinian plan to ask the U.N. General Assembly to recognize a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, Palestinian officials reported this week.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that no date for such a step was set in Sunday's Arab League meeting in Doha. Instead, a committee was to prepare a U.N. appeal and report back to the Arab League on Sept. 5.
Timing is crucial, with a U.N. bid before November potentially disrupting the U.S. presidential race.
The U.S. opposes the quest for unilateral recognition. It says a Palestinian state must be set up through bilateral negotiations with Israel.
Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority broke down in 2008, and the two sides have disagreed on how to restart them.
The General Assembly can only give "Palestine" non-member observer state status.