Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday, Nov 12 at the Cairo-based Arab League he would press ahead with a bid for the United Nations to recognize Palestine as an observing state, adding that he was ready to start negotiations with Israel afterwards, Reuters reported.

"We had agreed to go get the vote on November 29 ... the majority needed for the vote will be on our side," Abbas told journalists.

"If it is possible to start talks on the following day (after acquiring the observer status) then we are ready for that," Abbas added.