Israelis reacted with amusement to the latest campaign by clothing brand Benetton, which shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas locked in a passionate embrace.

In his much-anticipated speech to the United Nations General Assembly today, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that he would be willing to return to the negotiating table with Israel with on condition that the international community recognise a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and that Israel cease all settlement building.

The Palestinian President has asked the United Nations Secretary General for Palestine to be accepted as a member state.

After months of speculation, Mahmoud Abbas officially submitted a bid for full membership at the United Nations.

The US and Israel have already made their opposition to the unilateral move clear

The Palestinian president has admitted that a unilateral bid for statehood will open a "difficult" situation in Middle East politics.

Mahmoud Abbas made the comments ahead of Friday's UN session in which the Palestinians are expected to ask the Security Council for full membership.

The Chief Rabbi of Tekoa, Menachem Froman, made his declaration of support in person to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the end of last month, when he visited his office in Ramallah.

Rabbi Froman, former Israeli army paratrooper and one of the founders of the settlement movement, told Mr Abbas that he regarded the declaration as a "present" for the Muslim holiday of Eid, when gifts are t

The general secretary of the Arab League has urged the Palestinian president to reconsider bidding for unilateral statehood at the United Nations next month.

Nabil El Araby made the comment in light of the heightened tension between Israel and Gaza, which was sparked when terrorists struck three separate locations in southern Israel last week, killing eight people.

Secret peace talks between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, took place in London, the JC can reveal.

The encounter was hosted over dinner by UK businessman Poju Zabludowicz at his north London home.

A secret meeting between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has taken place in London as part of a series of back-channel negotiations to reach a peace agreement in the Middle East, the JC can reveal.

Yossi Alpher: Yes

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for large-scale Arab Spring style protests in the West Bank to build up support for the planned bid for statehood at the United Nations.