Palestinian officials warned that if the United States vetoes efforts to seek Palestinian statehood recognition it will destroy all chances of reaching a two-state solution with Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said over the weekend that once he delivers his speech next Friday at the United Nations he intends to approach the Security Council and submit an application for full membership status. The Palestinians seek a sovereign state based on the 1967 borders which will enable them to return to the negotiating table with Israel as a recognized entity he said. The statehood bid with Jerusalem as its capital is only part of the Palestinian strategy he said. Abbas called on Palestinians to take to the streets on Wednesday but cautioned against resorting to violence saying such steps could harm and sabotage efforts to achieve statehood.
