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Abbas and Netanyahu to address UN General Assembly Mahmoud Abbas seeks UN observer status for Palestinians
(about 2 hours later)
Palestinian and Israeli leaders are due to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York shortly. The Palestinian leader has asked the UN to grant Palestinians "non-member observer state" by the end of the year.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to ask the UN to upgrade the Palestinians' status to "non-member observer state". Mahmoud Abbas told the General Assembly talks on such a status had begun, and that his eventual aim was to establish Palestine as a full member state.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will set down a "clear red line" over Iran's nuclear programme, officials say. Later Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the assembly. He is expected to set down a "clear red line" over Iran's nuclear programme.
Israel and the West suspect Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons, while Iran insists its programme is peaceful. The West suspects Iran is seeking build nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this.
On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Western countries of nuclear "intimidation", in a UN speech boycotted by the US and Israel. Mr Abbas told delegates the annual General Assembly in New York that Palestinians would continue their efforts to obtain full UN membership.
"Continued threat by the uncivilised Zionists [Israel] to resort to military action is a clear example of this bitter reality," he told the General Assembly. He said negotiations had begun with "regional organisations and member states" aimed at adopting a resolution making Palestine "a non-member state of the United Nations during this session".
Later UK Prime Minister David Cameron told the 193-nation gathering: "Iran will continue to face the full force of sanctions and scrutiny from this United Nations until it gives up its ambitions to spread a nuclear shadow across the world." "In our endeavour," he added, "we do not seek to delegitimise an existing state - that is Israel - but rather to assert the state that must be realised - that is Palestine."
Failed bid Currently, the Palestine Liberation Organisation only has "permanent observer" status. Last year, a bid for full-member status failed because of a lack of support at the UN Security Council.
In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama stressed the US would "do what we must" to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear arms. The change would allow Palestinians to participate in General Assembly debates. It would also improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court.
On Thursday, an Israeli official told reporters that Mr Netanyahu would "set a clear red line" which, if crossed, would lead to military intervention against Iran. Speech boycott
Mr Netanyahu is due to speak shortly.
On Thursday, an Israeli official told reporters that the prime minister would "set a clear red line" which, if crossed, would lead to military intervention against Iran.
"Israel and the US have a common goal to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The prime minister's remarks drawing a red line will help that this is attained," the Associated Press news agency quoted the official as saying."Israel and the US have a common goal to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The prime minister's remarks drawing a red line will help that this is attained," the Associated Press news agency quoted the official as saying.
While the Obama administration has not ruled out a military option, it says sanctions and multilateral negotiations with Iran must still be given time to work. In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama stressed the US would "do what we must" to stop Tehran acquiring nuclear arms.
But while the Obama administration has not ruled out a military option, it says sanctions and multilateral negotiations with Iran must still be given time to work.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was not prepared to commit to drawing "red lines", which Mr Netanyahu is insisting on.Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was not prepared to commit to drawing "red lines", which Mr Netanyahu is insisting on.
The Israeli prime minister recently warned that Iran was only six or seven months from having "90%" of what it needed to make a nuclear bomb and that it needed to be stopped. Mr Netanyahu recently warned that Iran was only six or seven months from having "90%" of what it needed to make a nuclear bomb and that it needed to be stopped.
In his own speech, Mr Abbas is expected request "non-member observer state" status for the Palestinians by the end of 2012. On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Western countries of nuclear "intimidation", in a UN speech boycotted by the US and Israel.
Last year, a bid for full-member status failed because of a lack of support in the UN Security Council. "Continued threat by the uncivilised Zionists [Israel] to resort to military action is a clear example of this bitter reality," he told the General Assembly.
Currently, the Palestine Liberation Organisation only has "permanent observer" status.
The change would allow Palestinians to participate in General Assembly debates. It would also improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court.