Barak convinces Nigeria to vote against PA UN state bid

Defense minister meets with Nigerian president to discuss Palestinian statehood, says Nigeria will vote against state bid.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, HERB KEINON
Barak speech serious 311 (photo credit: REUTERS/Charles Dharapak/Pool )
Barak speech serious 311
(photo credit: REUTERS/Charles Dharapak/Pool )
Ehud Barak has convinced Nigeria to not support the Palestinian statehood bid, a statement from the Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.
As part of the lobbying efforts, Defense Minister Ehud Barak met in New York Tuesday with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. The meeting between the two was set up about a week ago, and – according to the statement put out by Barak's office – was coordinated both with Netanyahu and the US.
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In addition to discussing the Palestinian issue, the statement said the two also discussed the "challenges of international terrorism and ways the two countries can cooperate in this area." Nigeria, one of Israel's closest friends in Africa, has been plagued over the last number of years by radical Islamic terrorism.
Gabon has not yet decided if it will back the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations, Army Radio reported on Tuesday.
Israel was sure that the west central African country would support the bid and give the Palestinian Authority a majority in the Security Council.
Should Gabon decide to not support the bid, the resolution would not pass and the United States would not need to use its veto.