The Government is refusing to be drawn on whether it will support the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations General Assembly.
The Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, is planning to put a written request for membership to the UN Secretary-General.
The United States has indciated it will veto the request.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully has said he wants the resolution put to the General Assembly before New Zealand makes a commitment.
Representatives of both the Palestinian and Jewish communties in New Zealand say in the past, the Government has tended to support the Palestinian cause.
But both representatives think the current government has moved closer to the American position, which tends to support Israel.
