Diplomats Scramble as Palestinians Plan to Apply for U.N. Membership on Friday ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Neil MacFarquhar, Steven Lee Myers - (Analysis) September 19, 2011 - 12:00am UNITED NATIONS — The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said Monday that he would present an application for Palestine to join the United Nations immediately after he addresses the General Assembly on Friday, as diplomats worked frenetically to try to limit the fallout from the application. Mr. Abbas told Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary general, that he was determined to move forward. “I think it has dawned on everybody that they cannot convince us not to go,” said Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian delegation. “Most people are discussing what is next.” » Read more