The Palestinians have officially launched their campaign aimed at joining the UN as a full member state.
Palestinian officials and activists on Thursday announced the campaign in a letter delivered to the office of UN chief Ban Ki-moon in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
It urges the UN chief to "exert all possible efforts toward the achievement of the Palestinian people's just demands."
The letter says the campaign will include a series of peaceful events leading up to the September 21 opening of the UN General Assembly. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the assembly two days later.
The Palestinians say they are turning to the UN because years of peace negotiations have failed.
Israel says peace can only be achieved through negotiations.
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