The vote is largely symbolic, the outcome nearly assured: The Palestinians and Israelis are closely watching the evolving positions of a few key countries in Thursday's U.N. General Assembly resolution to raise the Palestinians' status from a U.N. observer to a nonmember observer state. The measure only requires a majority and is all but certain to pass.

The United States and Israel are strongly opposed, saying they fear it will only slow progress toward a peace deal.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been lobbying Western countries, particularly in Europe, in hopes of presenting a broad international consensus against Israel. The international boost will also help him in his rivalry with Hamas, which gained popularity with Palestinians after battling Israel during eight days of fighting earlier this month.

Two-thirds of U.N. member nations have already recognized the state of Palestine.

IN FAVOR OR LEANING THAT WAY:

— FRANCE: Yes. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius made the announcement before parliament. "In any case, it's only through negotiations - that we ask for without conditions and immediately between the two sides - that we will be able to reach the realization of a Palestinian state," Fabius said Tuesday.

— CHINA: Yes. The foreign minister reaffirmed support for Palestinian aspirations at the U.N. during a meeting last Friday with a Palestinian envoy.

— SPAIN, NORWAY, DENMARK and SWITZERLAND: All announced Wednesday they would vote yes. The Swiss government called a change in status "both constructive and pragmatic."

—AUSTRIA: Yes. Martin Weiss, the foreign ministry spokesman, said Austria decided to vote for the resolution after it became clear there would be no common EU position.

—ICELAND. Yes. Iceland's foreign ministry said the country was "at the forefront of states that support the Palestinian cause" and hoped the resolution will help Palestine become a full-fledged UN member state.

—IRELAND: Yes. Ireland, which has long sympathized with the Palestinians, said it hoped the measure "will encourage the Palestinian people that they are slowly coming towards their goal," government minister Shane McEntee told the country's parliament.

— RUSSIA: Probably yes. It supported Palestinian membership in the U.N. cultural agency, UNESCO. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it "believes that the Palestinians have the right for such a move" but it added "we hope that the Palestinian leadership has well calculated possible consequences of such action."

—INDIA: Yes.

—GREECE: Yes. Continued...