"Several technical consultations have been held, we've made some amendments and voting may occur at any moment. The vote [for Palestinian independence] will be very, very soon – by the end of this year," Oreikat said.
The draft resolution on the creation of the Palestinian state was submitted to the UN Security Council on December 17. The resolution sets a 12 month deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories.
On the same day, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the recognition of the Palestinian Authority as a state.
On Monday, Sahib Oreikat held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. Lavrov reassured Oreikat that the aspirations of Palestinians to gain international recognition and obtain statehood were supported by Russia.
Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank, including the disputed city of East Jerusalem, as well as the Gaza Strip exclave.
Palestine has been recognized as a sovereign state by 135 out of the 193 member states of the United Nations. Since November, 2012, the Palestinian Authority has held a non-member observer nation status at the intergovernmental organization.
