Obama urges more talks ahead of Palestinian statehood bid

U.S. President Barack Obama called on UN members on Wednesday to focus their efforts on encouraging direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to achieve Middle East peace. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to deliver a formal request for statehood recognition on Friday when he speaks to the UN General Assembly. Israel and the U.S. strongly oppose the move, saying the long-running Middle East conflict can be resolved only through negotiations. "One year ago, I stood at this podium and called for an independent Palestine. I believed then – and I believe now – that the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own," Obama said. "But what I also said is that genuine peace can only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians themselves. One year later, despite extensive efforts by America and others, the parties have not bridged their differences," he went on. "We will only succeed in that effort if we can encourage the parties to sit down together, to listen to each other, and to understand each other's hopes and fears," he continued. "That is the project to which America is committed. And that is what the United Nations should be focused on in the weeks and months to come." Washington has pledged to veto any Palestinian statehood bid in the UN Security Council. But the Palestinian authorities have said they will push for at least non-full member status in the United Nations via a General Assembly vote. The majority of UN member states support the Palestinian bid. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a private meeting with Obama on Wednesday that the Palestinian attempts to secure UN recognition of statehood "will not succeed." He later praised Obama's UN speech, saying "I want to thank you, Mr President, for standing with Israel and supporting peace through direct negotiations."