Arabs to present draft on Palestinian state to U.N. Security Council

Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo Saturday say they've agreed to push the United Nations Security Council for Palestinian statehood.

Palestinians want statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and blockaded Gaza Strip - lands captured by Israel in a 1967 war.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel has left his people no other option but to turn directly to the international community.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD ABBAS, SAYING:

"Honorable delegates, we made several decisions that included firstly, heading to the U.N. Security Council to present an Arab draft resolution that includes securing a Palestinian state -- with the capital being East Jerusalem on the border of the June 6, 1967 border -- and placing a time frame for the execution of this."

Arab League chief Nabil al-Araby says Jordan -- an Arab member of the U.N. Security Council -- will formally present the draft for a vote within days.

BUT it is unlikel