But President Obama has vowed to veto the bid at the council stage, backing Israel's view that a resumption of direct peace talks offer the only route to peace.
Further backing from Thabo Mbeki, the leader of South Africa - the first country from the continent which will stage the Fifa World Cup - and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, led to a few plaudits from the media.
But Mr Byers - who is also secretary of state for the regions - received a boost in the form of the backing of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who predicted his colleague would play a major part in the next stage of the government's plans for devolution into the English regions.