By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- In the run up to the UN Security Council's Monday afternoon meeting on Palestine's application for UN membership, Inner City Press asked Council diplomats what they expected to happen.
"I don't think they have nine votes," one well placed Council source said. "So the Arabs may want to delay it." This source said that the Quartet statement of Friday afternoon made it easier for those not wanting to vote "yes" -- he listed Nigeria, Gabon and Bosnia -- to explain their changed position.
Another source said given a lack of nine votes, ironically the US might want to call for a vote now, and not have to use a veto. But that would be difficult.
While it was argued last week that since nine Council members have in the past recognized Palestine there should be nine votes now for membership, Bosnia for example can be hamstrung by the position of the Republica Srbska third of its triumvirate government.
Bosnia's Permanent Representative Ivan Barbalic told Inner City Press "the Presidency" is considering how to vote, and that it was difficult to say anything on Monday morning. Nigeria, too, is not considered a sure yes vote.
Germany's Deputy Permanent Representative Miguel Berger told Inner City Press the obvious, that things will not move as fast as they did for South Sudan: a three day rocket docket. It will be procedure, to decide how to proceed, he said. Watch this site.
