Palestinian president rejects US pressure to drop UN initiative despite call from Obama
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A spokesman for the Palestinian president says the Palestinians will proceed with asking the U.N. General Assembly to recognize a Palestinian state, despite a personal call from President Barack Obama to abandon the bid.
Nabil Abu Rdeneh said President Mahmoud Abbas had a long phone conversation with Obama Sunday evening.
He said Obama "expresses his opposition to this step," but Abbas replied he would carry on.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.S. and Israel have opposed upgrading the Palestinian status at the world body to nonmember observer state.
Israel and the U.S. say a Palestinian state can be established only through negotiations.
Talks broke down four years ago over the issue of Israeli settlement construction in lands the Palestinians claim for a state.