UN Security Council refers Palestinian Authority membership application to committee

A quick update on proceedings in the UN this afternoon. 

The UN Security Council has referred the Palestinian Authority's application to become a full member of the UN to the committee on admissions. 

That committee is set to meet at 3pm in New York (8pm UK time).

The council is understood to have held closed consultations this morning. 

As we reported earlier (see 6.39am post), the Palestinian Authority failed to win UN recognition for Palestine as an independent member state in 2011.

The following year, it was decided Palestine would hold the status of "non-member observer state" - similar to the Vatican's designation - which it has held since.