UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The Palestinian U.N. observer is predicting that "a historic event" will take place on Thursday when a great majority of countries in the United Nations are expected to approve a resolution recognizing the existence of the state of Palestine.

Riyad Mansour praised France and other key European nations Tuesday for supporting the resolution, which would elevate the Palestinians to a nonmember observer state at the U.N.

Mansour said the Palestinians believe the resolution will pave the way for serious peace negotiations with Israel, and he urged all nations that want to see independent states of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace to approve the resolution.

There are no vetoes in the 193 member General Assembly and the resolution is virtually certain of approval.