In its latest bid to prevent a United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood, Israel is attempting to set up a meeting in New York City this week between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas earlier said he was willing to meet Netanyahu but was determined to push ahead with a bid for U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state. The last round of talks between the Palestinians and Israel broke down a year ago. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States remains opposed to the Palestinian statehood bid.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “We are engaged in extremely intensive, ongoing diplomacy, reaching out to not only the parties but to all of the people who are here for the U.N. General Assembly. And we continue to believe and are pressing the point that the only way to a two-state solution, which is what we support and want to see happen, is through negotiations. And no matter what does or doesn’t happen this week, it will not produce the kind of outcome that everyone is hoping for. So we’re going to stay very much engaged and focused.”