Germany will abstain on UN vote on Palestine state

Germany said it will abstain when the U.N. General Assembly votes to recognize a Palestinian state, according to AP. The 193-member assembly is to vote Thursday in New York on a proposal to accept 'Palestine' on lands occupied by Israel in 1967 and grant it non-member observer state. The measure is expected to win wide approval. In Berlin, the German Foreign Ministry announced it would abstain even though it supports Palestinian statehood. A ministry statement said Germany believes the best way to achieve Palestinian statehood is through negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, a view shared by the Israelis and the United States. Germany said it fears Thursday's vote will only serve to harden positions rather than bring the parties closer to meaningful talks.