Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged Israel to recognize a Palestinian state and not "lose an opportunity for peace"

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Monday urged Israel to recognize a Palestinian state and not "lose an opportunity for peace," ahead of a formal request for Palestinian UN membership this week.
  
Abbas called "on the Israeli people to recognize the state of Palestine, proving that there can be a two-state solution, and not lose an opportunity for peace." The Palestinian leader made the comments to reporters as he arrived in New York, where he is set to submit later this week a formal request that the United Nations admit a Palestinian state as a full member of the international organization.
  
The bid is fiercely opposed by the Zionist entity, which accuses the Palestinians of trying to circumvent negotiations, and also by Washington, which has threatened to veto the move at the Security Council.
The Palestinians say they will not negotiate while Israel builds on land they want for their future state, and argue the bid for UN membership will allow them a more equal footing with Israel in any future talks.