The Palestinian leadership sees "progress" in the European Union's position on its plan to seek U.N. membership next month, a senior Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official told Agence France Presse on Sunday.

"There is progress in the European stance and a willingness to coordinate with the Palestinian leadership over the type of resolution we are looking for," said PLO secretary general Yasser Abed Rabbo a day after president Mahmoud Abbas met in Ramallah with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

China has said it will vote in favor of Palestinian statehood when the matter is presented to the U.N. Security Council next month, the official Palestinian news agency said on Friday.

A message to that effect from Chinese President Hu Jintao was delivered to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, WAFA said.

The Arab League will hold emergency talks on Sunday to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip after a series of Israeli air strikes on the enclave, the deputy leader of the group said.

"The Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday, at the request of Palestine, to examine the repercussions of the dangerous situation following Israel's continuous aggression on Gaza," Ahmed Ben Helli told Agence France Presse on Saturday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati said on Thursday that the cabinet will continue to respect international resolutions especially those linked to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.

“The cabinet that made a commitment in its ministerial statement to respect the international resolutions particularly with regard to the STL and the international justice,” Miqati stressed.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas inaugurated Wednesday the Palestinian embassy in Lebanon and hoisted the Palestinian flag atop its building, after the Lebanese cabinet officially recognized the state of Palestine and approved to raise the level of diplomatic representation with it.

Flanked by Prime Minister Najib Miqati, the Palestinian leader also unveiled a plaque commemorating the event.

Ministers in the Israeli security cabinet were meeting on Wednesday to discuss the possible scenarios in September when Palestinians try to secure U.N. membership, Israel's main radio stations said.

The meeting was called by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to talk through assessments of how things would play out in New York when the General Assembly meets in mid-September, as well as looking at the expected wave of rallies and demonstrations of support across the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed Tuesday that “the Palestinians are under the Lebanese law and we don’t need all the weapons, as we are under the protection of the Lebanese people, president, government and parliament.”

Abbas arrived Tuesday in Beirut for a 2-day visit during which he will hold talks with top Lebanese officials, inspect the living conditions of Palestinian refugees and seek Lebanon’s support for the Palestinian bid for U.N. membership.

The head of the Democratic Renewal Movement form MP Nassib Lahoud stressed on Tuesday the movement’s objectivity towards various political powers in Lebanon, saying that it will not take sides with the March 8 or 14 camps.

He added however that it will “not maintain a neutral position on the current challenges” facing Lebanon.

A senior Palestinian official on Monday strongly condemned Syria over violence that forced thousands of Palestinian refugees to flee a camp in the port city of Latakia.

"We strongly condemn the operations of the Syrian forces in raiding and shelling the Palestinian Ramel Camp in Latakia and the displacement of the population," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who visits Beirut on Tuesday, is expecting that the Palestinian bid for United Nations recognition will receive a boost from Lebanon's taking over the presidency of the U.N. Security Council.

In an interview with al-Liwaa daily published Monday, Abbas hoped that Lebanon would play an effective role in his bid for U.N. membership on September 20, despite Israeli opposition.