Germany says it won't support Palestinian statehood bid in UN vote

BERLIN – Germany says it won't back a Palestinian drive for statehood in a U.N. vote this week — putting it at odds with France and other European countries.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Wednesday Berlin is still evaluating the situation and consulting with its European partners. But he said: "It is also very certain that Germany will not vote for such a resolution."

Officials left open whether Germany will vote against raising the Palestinians' status from a U.N. observer to a nonmember observer state when the U.N. General Assembly considers the issue on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke says Germany's priority is to avoid anything that could damage prospects of a negotiated two-state solution.

Germany last year voted against Palestinian membership of UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency.