Netanyahu may meet Abbas in New York

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may meet in New York next week, the Israeli government stated. Netanyahu is likely to call for an immediate resumption of direct negotiations, the Israeli Prime Minister''s Office said in a statement today. There are underway by the international Quartet to reach an agreed-on formula that would allow a resumption of direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine, according to Army Radio. Netanyahu said yesterday he would address the United Nations next week to set out Israel''s objections to the Palestinians'' bid for membership of the world body. The Palestinians are to formally submit their request for membership on September 20 when world leaders begin gathering in New York for the 66th session of the General Assembly. The decision comes after direct peace talks with Israel ran aground late last year stopped over Jewish settlement construction on occupied Palestinian land.