Permanent Palestinian observer to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said Tuesday that the option of changing Palestine's status from "observer entity" to a "non-member state" is still being studied.

Mansour told the Italian news agency AKI that becoming a non-member state "does not invalidate the right to become a member state as recommended by several UN resolutions such as resolution 181 in 1947."

The ultimate goal would be to obtain full UN membership like South Sudan, he said, however if that objective is not met then Palestine would seek a status similar to that of the Vatican.

UN membership would benefit the Palestinians by putting pressure on Israel to end its occupation and finally implementing Palestinian ownership of its territories, Mansour said.

It will also represent the historical achievement of creating the first Palestinian state.

The predictable US veto of the Palestinian bid will not end the process, Mansour added, as the Palestinians can go back to the UN Security Council at an appropriate time.

Israel and the US openly oppose the Palestinian bid for UN membership.