The U.S. government on Friday reiterated its opposition to Palestine's bid to seek a non-member- state status in the United Nations.

"Our comment is no different than the comment that we've been making for more than a year," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland at a regular briefing. "Actions in the United Nations, efforts to move this forward in the United Nations, are not going to bring the Palestinian people any closer to a state."

A senior Palestinian official recently said that the vote on whether to recognize Palestine as a non-member state by the United Nations will be "very soon."

The United States and Israel oppose the Palestinians' UN bid, and have called on Palestine to gain statehood through peace negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly told Israeli TV in an interview that will be aired on Friday evening: "We want an independent Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967 beside the state of Israel."

"I think we've been pretty clear here about what we are seeking, which is a negotiated solution between Israelis and Palestinians that is lasting and sustainable and results in two states that can live next to each other," Nuland added.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)