<p>The 15-member body held closed-door discussions yesterday on the application, which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had submitted to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last Friday.<br /><br />Moon had forwarded the request to the Council.<br /><br />Ambassador Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for this month, said the Council will take a decision tomorrow to refer the application to the Council's Committee on the Admission of New Members.<br /><br />According to procedure, any recommendations for admission must receive the affirmative votes of nine of the Council's 15 members, provided that none of the permanent five members – China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States – use their veto powers.<br /><br />The US has already said it would veto the plea if it comes up to the Security Council.<br />If the Council recommends admission, the recommendation is presented to the 193-member Assembly, where a two-thirds majority of members present and voting is necessary for admission of a new State.<br /><br />Palestine currently has observer status at the UN.</p>
<p>The 15-member body held closed-door discussions yesterday on the application, which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had submitted to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last Friday.<br /><br />Moon had forwarded the request to the Council.<br /><br />Ambassador Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for this month, said the Council will take a decision tomorrow to refer the application to the Council's Committee on the Admission of New Members.<br /><br />According to procedure, any recommendations for admission must receive the affirmative votes of nine of the Council's 15 members, provided that none of the permanent five members – China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States – use their veto powers.<br /><br />The US has already said it would veto the plea if it comes up to the Security Council.<br />If the Council recommends admission, the recommendation is presented to the 193-member Assembly, where a two-thirds majority of members present and voting is necessary for admission of a new State.<br /><br />Palestine currently has observer status at the UN.</p>