general assembly, but just who is abbas? what is his role in the splintered politics of the middle east? we'll take a closer look at this key player. what is that? it's you! it's me? alright emma, i know it's not your favorite but it's time for your medicine, okay? you ready? one, two, three. [ both ] ♪ emma, emma bo-bemma ♪ banana-fana-fo-femma ♪ fee-fi-fo-femma ♪ em-ma very good sweety, how do you feel? good. yeah? you did a really good job, okay? let's go back to drawing. ♪ ♪ co-signed her credit card ye-- "buy books, not beer!" ♪ob, okay? but the second that she shut the door ♪ ♪ girl started blowing up their credit score ♪ ♪ she bought a pizza party for her whole dorm floor ♪ ♪ hundred pounds of makeup at the makeup store ♪ ♪ and a ticket down to spring break in mexico ♪ ♪ but her folks didn't know 'cause her folks didn't go ♪ ♪ to free-credit-score-dot-com hard times for daddy and mom. ♪ offer applies with enrollment in freecreditscore.com™. yeah, i toog nyguil bud i'm stild stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyq

there was -- president come abbas -- president abbas put this bid in place. there was a lot of international pressure, and they did not back down. >> it will be the vetoed by the u.s. in the security council. >> they see it as a unilateral move by the palestinians to try to isolate israel further in the international community. it is also a move against peace talks. we have to make clear here that there are no peace talks at the moment. i think it really depends on how the international community will now also deal with this, if there will be pressure on both sides, on the israelis and on the palestinians. if you listened to the speeches, you can see that the two sides are really far apart and we're not sure what will happen next here. >> let's talk about the opinion of ordinary israelis. do they share the uncompromising stance of their prime minister? >> it really depends who you ask. israeli society is very complex. there are many different opinions about that. yesterday, we saw a demonstration by left-wing intellectuals supporting this yuen bid, but -- un

i explained this to president abbas.e answered if a palestinian state was to be a sovereign country, it could never accept such arrangements. why not? america has had troops in japan, germany and south korea for more than half a century. britain has had an airspace in cypress -- or rather an air base in cypress. france has forces in three independent african nations. none of these states claim that they're not sovereign countries. and there are many other vital security issues that also must be addressed. take the issue of airspace. again, israel's small dimensions create huge security problems. america can be crossed by a jet airplane in six hours. to fly across israel, it takes three minutes. so is israel's tiny airspace to be chopped in half an given to a palestinian state not at peace with israel? our major international airport is a few kilometers away from the west bank. without peace, will our planes become targets for anti-aircraft missiles placed in the adjacent palestinian states? and how will we stop the smugg

abbas a standing ovation. is that significant? even if this request is vetoed by the united states, the palestinians might apply for a new status. >> that is correct. he got a pretty large standing ovation from a large majority of the general assembly membership. if he does decide to go to the general assembly, he will get the majority. the question will be, when will he go? how long will he give the security council in the deliberations on this? what will be the prevailing atmosphere as we move into those kinds of actions? all of this will have an affect on the broader picture in the middle east. how we are able to get beyond the impasse we are in right now. >> thank you. workers in pakistan say it is taking too long to get an emergency supplies to areas of the country swamped by flooding. 350 people have been killed and around 8 million people are affected. we have traveled to the southern province where there is a desperate shortage of food, shelter, medicine. >> camped out, is that it floodwaters. more than a month into this d

what is abbas expected to say, reena? >> reporter: the focus will be pushing forward this bid for statehood through the security council. he'll give that to them any minute now, we're expecting that. we're not expecting a vote to come quickly. it could beeeks, even months. we asked the palestinian president mahmoud abbas what his next move would. alexis: if you're unable to get an upgraded status in the the -- at the u.n. been would you consider resigning? >> i will not run for reelection. this is exactly what i said and this is my decision. now, to reside or not to reside, it depends after we come back from the resolutions. >> everyone what happens after the speech. do you worry there could be a third infitada? >> there will be no armed intifada, because the people believe that they will resist in a peaceful way, not in the other way. >> reporter: a senior palestinian official sells fox news that one of the options they're considering is turning over the entire palestinian authority to the israelis to control. that would

i explained this to president abbas. he answered that if a palestinian state was to be a sovereign country, it could never accept such a way. why not? america has had troops in japan, germany, and south korea for more than half a century. britain has had an air base in sipe press. france has forces in three independent african nations. none of these states claim that they are not sovereign countries. and there are many other vital security issues that also must be addressed. take israel's air space. again, israel's small dimensions create huge security problems. america can be crossed by jet airplanes in six hours. to fly across israel it takes three minutes. so is israel's tiny air space to be chopped in half and given to a palestinian state not at peace with israel? our major international airport is a few kilometers away from the west bank. without peace, will our planes become targets for targets anti-arkte missiles placed in the anti-israel states? and how will we stop the smuggling into the west bank? it's the west

but abbas won long applause before the u.n. general assembly.charged that negotiating for statehood was meaningless, so long as israel continues building settlements in the west bank. >> ( translated ): this policy will destroy the chances of achieving a two-state solution upon which there is an international consensus, and here i caution, and i caution aloud: this settlement policy threatens to also undermine the structure of the palestinian national authority and even end its existence. >> suarez: under the circumstances, the palestinian leader insisted his people were left with no option except going to the u.n. >> ( translated ): when we bring our plight and our case to this international podium, it is a confirmation of our reliance on the political and diplomatic option and is a confirmation that we do not undertake unilateral steps. our efforts are not aimed at isolating israel or de- legitimizing it. at a time when the arab peoples affirm their quest for democracy in what is called now the arab spring. the time has come also for the pales

>> mahmoud abbas insists that the application offers a way out of years of bloodshed. israel sees it as an obstacle to a solution. >> the truth is that we cannot achieve peace through u.n. resolutions but only through negotiations between the parties. the truth is that so far the palestinians have refused to negotiate. the truth is that israel wants peace with that palestinian state the palestinians want a state without peace. >> some palestinians have clashed with israeli security forces. and the worst incident, israeli forces shot dead a palestinian in a confrontation apparently involving jewish settlers. they say that it will hinder, not help, negotiating a settlement. the netted nations has played a big role before. israel's own independence follow this but at the u.n.. -- bthe united nations has played a big role before. in 1957, the u.n. recommended switching palestine to a jewish state and a palestinian state with jerusalem kept under international control. in 1958, israel fought for and won independence. palestinians want a state held on land that they held bef

abbas asked the united nations today to accept his nation as a member state. good evening, i'm jim lehrer. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight: we assess the palestinian bid and the israeli reaction. >> lehrer: then, jeffrey brown examines president obama's changes to the "no child left behind" law. >> suarez: from orlando, florida, judy woodruff has the latest on the g.o.p. presidential contest. >> republicans have gathered in this crucial battleground state and last night brought yet another showdown between frontrunners rick perry and mitt romney. >> lehrer: and mark shields and david brooks analyze the week's news. that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: ♪ ♪ moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. we spend billions on advanced technologies. >> it's all about investing in the future. >> we can find new energy-- more cleaner, safer and smarter. >> collaborating with the best in the field. >> chevron works with the smartest people at leading universiti

president abbas has now gone back.t me ask you quickly, an exciting day today? how did it feel when you saw president abbas tell the united nations that he would like an independent palestinian state full membership in the u.n.? >> it was a great day. we felt the full force of the cause, the righteousness of the cause, the solidarity and the support of the people of the world and we felt the unity of the people back in ramallah and jerusalem and gaza, everywhere. we've seen them demonstrating in london, paris, new york, it was a good day. it was a peaceful day. the most important thing, how peaceful it was, despite the many, many, many threats we were receiving and complaints by the israeli government this might ignite violence. the scene today was peaceful. >> you heard president obama say u.n. resolutions and statements not going to create a palestinian state. you need to negotiate that directly with the israelis, and you just heard prime minister netanyahu say he's ready to sit down immediately and negotiate but wit

palestinian president mahmoud abbas. president obama had meetings with abbas and netanyahu. who close are the sides to doing a deal? a representative to the united states is here. thank you for joining me. >> thank you. >> a lot going on. the president met with both sides today. what is your understanding of how the meeting went with mahmoud abbas and the president? >> the president abbas met with president obama this evening and they exchanged views about the palestinian decision to go to the united nations to seek full membership at the international organization. it was actually a repeat of the u.s. previous positions which are very well known to the palestinian side. the president reiterated the support of the united states for palestinian state for the two state solution. and he expressed the u.s. opposition to the palestinian seeking full membership at the united nations. the u.s. believes it has to be the outcome of bilateral negotiations. at the same time president abbas explained to books. that the palestinian decision was made and that they are determined to go to

i don't hear abbas saying anythi. nothing! 's not offering anything! look, how long can i stay on the jordan river? talked to him for all of six hours. that's all you need to talk to me in the two and a half years that m prime minister. six hours! you know, have a centuryf con flikt resolve. six hour that's all you give? and i began... he said about territory and i said, listen, i understand that, mr. president. i want to know something from your side. everyday, every moment i rd those newspapers, those on edz, what israel has to give and what israel has to gi. how about what israel has to receive? how about security from areas we've been... >> rose: but before we talk about... >> can we get a long-term israeli presence along the jordan river? >> rose: is that essential for you? >> absolutely. absolutely. >> rose: so you are not prepared to give up all of the west bank? that means you're not prepared to go back to '67. that was not part of '67. >> well, i'm not going to back to the '67 lines and president obama said as much. after all, israel gets to b

i explained this to president abbas.ered that if a palestinian state was to be a sovereign country, it could never accept such arrangements. why not? america's had troops in japan, germany and south korea for more than half a century. britain has had an air space in cypress, or rather an air base in cypress. france has forced in many three independent african nations. none of these states claim that they're not sovereign countries. and there are many other vital security issues that also must be addressed. take the issue of air space. again, israel's small dimensions create huge security problems. america can be crossed by jet airplane in six hours. to fly across israel it takes three minutes. so is israel's tiny air space to be chopped in half and given to a palestinian state not at peace with israel? our major international airport is a few kilometers away from the west bank. without peace will our planes become targets for anti-aircraft missiles place inside the adjacent palestinian state? and how will we stop the smu

i think that prime minister abbas the president abbas today in his speech made a very clear case for why the united nations should not fulfill its mandate and also hold international law by recognizing the post in the in state in what is universally recognized as occupied palestinian territories and that's all of the posts in the ins are asking that the law be upheld and that is will is not given a free hand to continue occupying and expanding its settlements illegally in palestinian territory ok no i'm letting richard you're shaking your head why should i do recognize well i disagree completely but why should i think will happen analysis of what the law is because i'm not the law because they're neither should be regular sallust i first there has never been a definition of what palestine is that israel occupies one portion of what was the palestine mandate coming out of the league of nations after world war one jordan became a state and israel gave away the whole sinai and they pulled out of lebanon and they pulled out of gaza and in each case what israel got in return was tens of t

what's different about what abbas is asking for?'t what is good for the goose good for the gander? >> if goose is kosher. >> i will check that with my rabbi. >> stephen: okay, please do. >> the way that israel came into being was a result of a war. the u.n. repartitionsed the mandate that the british what in 1947. they said this land is for the jews, this land is for the arabs. but there wasn't an agreement. and they ended up at war. and so our concern is that if there is a similar thing that happens here where the u.n. says okay, we're done. here's your state and there isn't agreement, does this set the stage for further violence. what you need is you need an agreement between the parties to end this conflict. >> stephen: okay, let's talk about, let's talk about j pact, you guys. okay, i thought there was already an israeli lobby, a-pac. the american israeli political action committee, that's the israeli lobby. who are you guys? >> we are the other israel lobby. >> stephen: how can there be two lobbies. everybody has to be pro-isra

he'll meet separately with abbas and netanyahu after addressing the u.n. general assembly this morning. >> with the israelis and with the palestinians, the president will be able to say very directly why we believe that action with the united nations is not the way to achieve palestinian state. >> reporter: abbas has been trying to line up support before he asks the security council on friday to formally recognize a palestinian state. the u.s. would push for peace talks with israel. last year, president obama had high hopes for a two-state solution. >> when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the united nations. sovereign state of palestine leaving in peace with israel. >> reporter: while u.s. officials say they can't stop abbas from asking for statehood, they at least hope he'll postpone his plans. a delay could give mediators time to jump-start the negotiations. in the west bank, even talk of a separate palestinian state is sparking new clashes. palestinians youth hurled rocks at u.s. soldiers on tuesda

according to the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas. the storm was here when he left his hotel with a line in his speech that the time is now for the palestinian spring, a time he said for independence. president abbas presented the formal application for membership to the u.n. secretary general for a palestinian state based on the west bank and gaza with a capital in jerusalem, land israel captured in the 1967 war. and then the u.n. general assembly, normally sedate, even sleepy, gave him its best welcome. and so did palestinians in ramallah on the west bank. >> president abbas, seen as week by many of them, ignored american pressure to keep their future away from the united nations. president abbas said he wanted to negotiate, but not in the way they'd been doing it since 1993 and he accused israel of apartheid, taking land palestinians want for their state to build illegal settlements for jews. >> settlement activities embody the core of the policy of colonial military occupation of the land of the palestinian people and all of the b

president abbas didn't respond. i aligned a vision of peace of two states with two peoples and he still didn't respond. i removed hundreds of roadblocks and checkpoints to ease freedom of movement in palestinian areas. this facilitated a fantastic growth in the palestinian economy but no response. i took the unprecedented step of freezing buildings in the settlements for ten months. no prime minister did that before ever. once again -- you applaud but there was no response. no response. in the last few weeks american officials put forward ideas how to restart peace talks. there were things in those ideas about orders i didn't like. there were things about the jewish state that i am sure the palestinians didn't like. but with all my reservations i was willing to move forward. president abbas, why don't you join me? we have to stop negotiating about the negotiations. let's just get on with it. let's negotiate peace. [applause] has spent years defending israel on the battlefield. i spent a decade defending israel in th

so i think part of it is telling abbas or letting abbas tell his people, it going to be over. we are going to get a state. and we are not going to try to go for tel aviv or the other parts of israel. we are going to live at peace. israel is here to stay that's why we should recognize the jewish state. i don't place preconditions on beginning negotiations. i would start them right now. >> greta: you offered that. listening to your speech you talk about being a theater and looking at the reaction. i saw that of course the palestinians were cheering on their president. the israelis are cheering on their prime minister. it seems like we know if we are creating this theater, we can't get you guys to sit down and work things out. now your base has dug its heels in. >> no, my base says to me and i say to my base, let's talk peace. let's negotiate. nobody spreads me from going to talk. that's the whole point. -- >> greta: i assume you still have to have the support of your people. if everyone thinks you are getting a raw deal because they are now asking for statehood that is something

i said to president abbas, we are in the same city. we are in the same building, for gods sake, in the u.n. let's sit down and talk peace. why are we talking about talking and negotiating about negotiating. put your conditions to the side. sit down opposite on the table. >> i have heard you say that, but it's not going to happen? >> why is it not going to happen? >> i'm saying there's not going to be talks? >> i'm not sure. the palestinians are trying to get a state to continue the conflict with israel rather than end it. they are trying to detour around peace negotiations and have the automatic majority give them a state. that's unfortunate. the only way we are going get peace is to negotiate it between the parties. at the end of the day, even though you are pessimistic, you know, it could happen. all you have to do, abbas is realize what i just said and sit down and just do it. >> i'm not making a judgment, i'm simply reading where we are. let me ask you this question. israel is arguably isolated as it has ever been in the midst of a

they fought for decades to be recognized as a nation state, and their leader, mahmoud abbas, has now applied for full membership of the united nations. >> translator: the support of the countries of the world for our endeavor is a victory for truth, freedom, justice, law, and international legitimacy, and it provides tremendous support for the peace option and enhances the chances of success of the negotiations. [ applause ] >> abbas handed the membership application to u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon on friday. ban will pass it to the chairman of the u.n. security council. the u.s. government says it will veto the application in the security council. >> peace cannot be imposed on the parties, it has to be negotiated. actions in the united nations will achieve neither statehood nor determination for the palestinians. >> israeli prime minister has criticized the palestinian move. >> the palestinians should first make peace with israel and then get their state. >> meanwhile, in palestine friday, tens of thousands of people in the west bank celebrated as abbas applied for full member

mahmoud abbas is facing some powerful opposition to this bid. find out how far along leaders are in this negotiation process -- we spoke to our correspondent in new york and asked him how much room mahmoud abbas has to maneuver. >> that is really hard to say, but at least he has given himself some time. he could have presented the bid officially monday morning when he met with the u.n. general secretary but he did not come up so he left himself time until friday and in between he will meet with a lot of heads of state, head of government, maybe even including the american of president obama although there is no bilateral meeting planned. they will probably meet on the sidelines of one or the other events that is taking place here. there is a lot at stake for the palestinians, including $500 million that the americans disperse annually in aid and many politicians already said they would do everything and their power to stop the aid if the palestinians really go for full statehood here at the u.n. >> that was a vw -- dw correspondent reporting ear

building settlements as a result of that president abbas said there is no point doing business as usual and this has been a process that has lasted for nearly two decades so at this point it doesn't look like the palestinians are being very receptive to the middle east force quartet statement that allowed both parties to go back to negotiation table within one month and then have everything settled within one year right now all eyes are on the u.n. to see if the palestinian bid for u.n. membership and statehood will and will in essence go through report correspondent in new york thoughts about this story from dr. advisor to the palestinian president mahmoud abbas very good to have you on the program tonight sir thank you for taking the time to be with us the security council debates expected to last maybe four weeks how do you expect this to pan out in all reality. reality it looks like the israeli position is crumbling of his support for the palestinian position is its maximum and we certainly hope it would work out positively as you know this is going to exhaust about thirty five days

president abbas said he wanted to animate -- negotiate. he accused israel of apartheid, taking land palestinians want for their state to build illegals they'll look -- some as for jews. >> settlement activities in body the core of colonial military occupation of the land of the palestinian people and all of the brutality of aggression and racial discrimination. this policy is the primary cause for the failure of the peace process. >> israel's road to independence came from a u.n. vote. >> united kingdom, abstained. united states, yes. >> the resolution divided the british from palestine. the plan created a jewish state and one for palestinians. jerusalem was kept under international control. the palestinians rejected the plan and israel won the war that followed. palestinians are prepared to except much less than they rejected in 1947. they want a capital in east jerusalem, land occupied by israel since the 1967 war. the americans say they will veto the application if it comes for a vote in the security council. even so, the palestinians b

if abbas presents this to the security council, this president, it's veto bait. this president should veto it and not lose a night's sleep over it. our problem right now can't be fixed. and you know, i'd be insulted your intelligence and david's if i suggested that there was some clever fix that would allow the this negotiation to actually succeed. >> if there were a magic bullet, we're not going to find it on the 4:00 hour ehere at msnbc, because they've been looking for it as long as there's been a problem. bigger. we've been through a lot in the middle east now. there's tremendous oppression in all those countries in various ways. saudi arabia, egypt, yemen, pick it, ten different ways. there is an underlying sense that the misaligned interests and exploitation in that region, away from the israeli/palestinian conflict is and whether continue to be confronted in the months and years to come on some level. how does what is going on away from israel/palestine either alter the dynamics, i should say, of the relevancy of this, making it the stakes higher or differ

president abbas, i extend my hand, the hand of israel in peace. i hope that you will grasp that hand. we are both the sons of abraham. my people call him and your people call him ibrahim. we share the same and dwell in the same land. our destinies are intertwined. let us realize the vision of isaiah. [speaking foreign language] the people who walked in darkness will see a great light. let that light be the light of peace. >> on behalf of the general s sem blee, i wish to thank the prime minister for the statement just made. >> we were listening to israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu speaking before the general assembly before palestinian president abbas's request at the un for a bid for state hood. a very interesting speech on many levels. first, let's note that netanyahu referred to abbas directly and said let's get on with it and negotiate peace and offering to meet this day at the un in new york city. a very defiant speech on behalf of the prime minister. our own andrea mitchell noted in her hour that this is a situation where the u.s. an

at the same time president abbas explained to books. that the palestinian decision was made and that they are determined to go to the u.n. to seek a full membership. >> this is a political move, isn't it? because you know there's no chance of actually winning full membership. you know the americans are going to have to use the veto. so what is the real game that's being played here? what do you really hope to achieve this week if you can? >> actually what we are trying to achieve, we're trying to send a clear message to the international committee that the status quo on the ground cannot continue. israel is in a situation where they don't have to pay for the consequences of their occupation of the palestinian people and land. and therefore we have to change the dynamics. we are trying to evaluate the status of the palestinians to that of an entity to a state. which will enable the palestinians to be able to talk to the israelis at more equal footing. and the palestinian state will be an occupied area. there is a disparity that israel ex

abbas said more talks would be meaningless. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu responded. >> i cannot make peace without you. president abbas, i extend my hand, the hand of israel, in peace. >> reporter: he insisted israel made concessions only to be forced to defend itself from continuing attacks and he dismissed the proceeding saying the u.n. always casts israel as the villain. >> this is an unfortunate part of the u.n. institution. it's the theater of the absurd. >> reporter: the obama administration has vowed to veto the palestinian effort which could play out for weeks or even months. ron allen, nbc news, united nations. >> reporter: this is martin fletcher in the west bank where thousands of palestinians watched the united nations, applauding their president abbas. >> i hope that tomorrow and after tomorrow we will get our own state. >> reporter: throwing shoes at israel's prime minister. it's a long way from talk to change. what palestinians call the moment of truth began badly. earlier, one palestinian was killed

well the speech of the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas to the u.n. has been received with a standing ovation he just finished in fact of his report i listened she joins us now with some comment on that from new york hi there i mean emotional scenes witnessed of the u.s. how was the speech received. well kevin it was emotional as you say you said he received a standing ovation at the end in the beginning he received applause and a standing ovation for it that lasted about a minute the entire general assembly hall was clapping as the palestinian president mahmoud abbas walked in it is reported that the israeli foreign minister avigdor lieberman walked out when the palestinian president walked in in what was about a forty minute speech he talked about the fact that the arab spring reaffirmed the quest for democracy among the arab world and the time has now come for the poly palestinian spring for independence for palestine he said that he had a mission we submitted an application for the admission of palestine on the basis of the june fourth one thousan

everything else was supporting abbas. thanks, everyone. we have to stop here, but the conversation continues online, in the "washington week" webcast extra, where we'll get to everything we couldn't get to here. it will be posted at 11:00 eastern time on pbs.org the and before we go tonight, we send condolences to the family of the late charles percy of illinois, the three-term senator and among 0 things, father of share percy rockefeller, the c.e.o. of weta here in washington. chuck percy was 91 years old. keem up with daily developments on air and online at the pbs news hour, and we'll see you next week right here on "washington week." good night. >> "washington week" was produced by weta, which is solely responsible for its content. funding for "washington week" is provided by -- >> this rock has never stood estimate since 1875 we've been there for our clients through good times and bad. when their needs changed, we were there to meet them. through the years from investment to real estate solutions, we've developed new ideas for the fin

back home, this was a day of strong support for their leader, president abbas. our veteran middle east correspondent martin fletcher reports tonight from the west bank. >> reporter: all the symbols, the drums, the flags, the v for victory. palestinians celebrating today. >> i want my whole country but for now i will settle for this. >> reporter: rallies in all the major towns in support of mahmoud abbas and statehood, the day off for civil servants and school kids. [ chanting in foreign language plaintiff's exhibit -- >> reporter: down with israel, they chant, up with palestine. police confined the rallies to city centers to avoid clashes with israeli soldiers. it didn't work everywhere. but there were no serious injuries and clashes didn't spread. the rallies stayed calm. the main message here today is to thank the palestinians who died in a struggle but fighting against israel but also to support their president mahmoud abbas in the united nations. to find out how true this really is we revisited alla sanakrai. he was a leader of the militant martyrs brigade.

as those scenes played out, euphoria, a pride for abbas. this was a milestone moment for the palestinians. it most certainly will fail. will there be violent consequences for hat? >> i hope not. it can sceed. there's two pieces to the equation. the palestinians want a state but they have to give pea in return. what they are trying to do in the united nations is get a state without peace or giving israel peace and security. that is wrong. that should not succeed. that should fail. what should succeed is for them to sit down and negotiate with us to get two states for two people a demilitarized state. that's what should succeed. >> you understand the palestinians are saying it's not going happen. >> it's because of them. i saido president abs, we are in the same city. we are in the same building, for gods sake, in the u.n. let's sit down and talk peace. why are we talking about talking and negotiating about negotiating. put your conditions to the side. sit down opposite on the table. >> i have heard you say that, but it's not going to happen?

so you know what was going on around you tonight now the speech of the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas to the u.n. was received with a standing ovation just a little bit earlier on following that the israeli prime minister took the floor to criticize the palestinian bid for statehood you're actually seeing him now on your screen that slade's life is going through the way you look at that let's talk as well throughout israel important she's been listening in to joins us live now from new york hi there what did the two leaders have to say and how is it being received . well kevin let's start with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu who you said is still speaking when he began his speech he said he did not come to the u.n. general assembly to win applause he came to speak the truth and he said the truth is israel wants peace but peace must be anchored in security and he said as u.s. president barack obama said that peace cannot be achieved through statements or un resolutions that was clearly a dig to the palestinian campaign for u.n. membership and statehood netanyahu said the pale

today president mahmoud abbas submitted a historical quite request to u.n. chief banking moon asking the united nations to recognize palestine is a state and admit is a member of for you and i understand can only be granted by the security council or nine out of fifteen the from the us is already set there would be the palestinians have also left options open to a lesser alternative becoming a nonmember observer state or be granted by the maternal assembly where there is overwhelming support overall though this move is seen as purely symbolic a vote clearly isn't going to solve the decades long middle east peace process but the lead up to this moment has brought israel palestine conflict back to the forefront of the us political scene being covered incessantly in the media but is there really anything to say that hasn't already said i join me to discuss this is my inner body visiting senior fellow at the institute for palestine studies and seton motley the founder and president of less government gentlemen thank you so much for joining me tonight now first s