President Obama’s threat to veto a request for United Nations recognition of Palestine apparently did little to dissuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. A senior official says Abbas will formally ask the U.N. Security Council to recognize Palestine as a full member on Friday. Speaking before the assembly yesterday, Obama said the best way for Palestine to achieve statehood was through direct negotiations with Israel, not "statements and resolutions at the United Nations.” The Palestinian News Agency quotes an Abbas aide saying that the Palestinian president doesn’t believe a U.N. bid will prevent peace negotiations with Israel.
