Israel Warns UN over Palestinian State

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has warned the United Nations against the international recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

"It will destroy everything we have accomplished to date," Lieberman said on Monday without giving further details about the achievements between the two sides.

Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were re-launched in Washington in September 2010, but were suspended later on after Tel Aviv refused to extend a partial freeze on its settlement activities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to extend the partial 10-month moratorium on the settlement expansion projects, which expired last September.

Acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas said he would not return to the negotiations as long as Tel Aviv continues its illegal settlement projects.

Palestinians say that the settlement activities are being carried out to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Abbas said last week that the PA intends to work on the recognition of an independent Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this September.

More than 100 countries have so far officially recognized Palestine as a state based on the 1967 borders, the boundaries that existed before Israel captured East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

(Press TV)

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