Netanyahu asks South Sudan to block UN bid

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, met with the President of South Sudan, Silva Kiir, in New York on Thursday. Israeli radio said that Netanyahu tried to convince Kiir to vote against the recognition of Palestine. Netanyahu claims that the Palestinian state must be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel. South Sudan is the newest member of the United Nations. Israeli radio reported that Mr Netanyahu told Kiir: “You know how to establish an independent state that had lived through a painful struggle.” “Southern Sudan was established after long negotiations and through the agreement of all parties and the international community”, Netanyahu said. Netanyahu pointed out that Israel was one of the first countries to recognise South Sudan, within 24 hours of the new state declaring independence. Netanyahu expressed his hope that “everyone will learn that this is the way to establish a state, through direct negotiations and not unilateral steps.” Israeli Radio said that Netanyahu is continuing his efforts to block Palestine’s UN bid. He will meet a number of officials today, including the Prime Minister of Portugal and the President of Costa Rica.