PALESTINE is set to apply for an upgrade from its position at the UN as a “country with observer status” to full membership, Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad Malki confirmed on Wednesday.

Mr Malki said he would be submitting the application when he visits the UN security council’s January meeting in New York, when he will take over as chair of the group of 77 developing countries and China.

For its bid to be successful Palestine needs the votes of 15 member countries of the security council. However any one of the permanent members — the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China — can veto the application.

Mr Malki will also demand that the UN security council implement Resolution 2334 and call on the International Criminal Court to start an investigation into Israel’s illegal settlement programme.

Under the resolution the UN secretary-general is required to present the security council with an update on Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories every three months.

The Palestinian minister said that if the resolution is not implemented he would take it to the UN general assembly.