Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has a message for President Obama:
"You promised me a state by September 2011. I hope you will deliver."
In an exclusive interview with Fox News, the Palestinian president said he's willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations this week.
Netanyahu will arrive in New York on Wednesday as the Palestinians press for recognition at the U.N. The United States vows to veto Abbas' attempt to get the Security Council to approve Palestinian membership, but the effort to gain observer status through a vote of the full General Assembly is more likely.
The U.S. and Israel oppose such a move, arguing that progress needs to be achieved through peace negotiations, not unilateral -- and mostly symbolic -- action by the U.N.
Abbas told Fox News he hasn't given up on negotiations.
"I will meet any Israeli official any time," said Abbas. "But there is no use if there is nothing tangible."
Abbas insists any future negotiations would have to include Israeli recognition of borders based on the 1967 lines, territory the Jewish state annexed during the war in 1967.
"Pre-conditions are making meeting impossible," Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli prime minister said. "We have repeatedly said we are ready immediately to start the peace process with face-to-face talks with the Palestinians without pre-conditions."
It seems unlikely that either side will push for a meeting.
Despite last minute diplomatic maneuvering, it appears the White House will be unable to convince Abbas to abandon his efforts at the U.N.
"I felt there is no way for negotiations because the American administration including President Obama exhausted their efforts to bring Netanyahu to the negotiating table," said Abbas. "They couldn't convince him to cease the settlement activities."
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