Palestinian President mahmoud abbas and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu look set for a un showdown next week, with abbas planning to push for membership for a Palestinian state and netanyahu arguing against it.

“despite the pressures that we face, Palestine goes to the un on the 23rd of this month to seek admission as a full member,“ abbas told egyptian Tv on wednesday. On Thursday netanyahu announced that he too would address the united nations, to set out israel's objections to the manoeuvre.

“The approach to the un to seek full membership for the state of Palestine is a done deal and irreversible,“ abbas said, following discussions with the diplomatic Quartet's envoy Tony blair.

The latest comments come amid a diplomatic flurry, with envoys from the united States, the european union and the Quartet holding talks with Palestinian and israeli leaders in an effort to get them back into direct peace talks that stalled a year ago.

“we will see if any of them is carrying a credible offer that will allow us to look into it seriously,” Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al malki told foreign journalists in Ramallah on Thursday.

european union foreign policy chief Catherine ashton met netanyahu on wednesday and Thursday after talks with abbas in egypt. uS envoys dennis Ross and david hale were to meet abbas later in the day. “we are open to any suggestions or ideas that could come from any side in order to renew negotiations on a firm basis with clear terms of reference, a clear timetable and clear guarantees,” malki said. — AFP