Britain threatened yesterday to abstain from a vote for enhanced Palestinian status at the UN unless the Palestinians commit to fresh talks with Israel, highlighting European divisions on the vote.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that in order to secure Britain’s vote at the UN General Assembly in New York today, the Palestinians would have to unconditionally agree to negotiations on a lasting two-state deal with Israel.

France has led several European countries in supporting the Palestinian bid for their UN status to be upgraded to that of a “non-member state”, which would win them new global recognition. Germany also said yesterday it would not vote in favour of the bid.

Hague said to win Britain’s vote, the Palestinians would also have to pledge not to sue Israel for war crimes through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and confirm that the UN resolution would not apply retroactively.

“Up until the time of the vote itself, we will remain open to voting in favour of the resolution if we see public assurances by the Palestinians on these points,” Hague told Parliament. “However, in the absence of these assurances the United Kingdom would abstain on the vote.”

Even without Britain’s vote, the Palestinians are poised to win the backing of a majority of the General Assembly’s 193 member states, although they face strong opposition from the US and Israel.

Along with France, European supporters of the Palestinian upgrade include Spain, Norway, Denmark, Malta and Switzerland.

Lithuania has said it will abstain on the vote, which would give the Palestinians the same diplomatic status at the UN as the Vatican.