RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Arab League on Sunday backed a Palestinian plan to ask the U.N. General Assembly to recognize a state of Palestine, but stopped short of setting a date for the bid, Palestinian officials said.

Instead, Arab League representatives meeting in Doha asked a committee to prepare the U.N. appeal and report back on Sept. 5, said Saeb Erekat, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking by phone from Doha.

Timing is crucial, with a U.N. bid before November potentially disrupting the U.S. presidential race.

So Arab League supports Palestinian bid for UNGA non-member status - but explicit moves have to be held off until US Presidential election ends. Thus taking it slow.