Palestinians threaten to declare state unilaterally, U.S. opposes, Israel threatens

Palestinian leaders say they will ask the United Nations to endorse an independent state without Israel's consent because of their frustration at the stalled peace process. Palestinian leaders say they want formal recognition of an independent state based on the pre-1967 borders with Israel, which would give them Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem as their capital. Asked if the United States supported such a move, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said he was "not aware that they have come to us seeking our opinion, our approval," and that the U.S. position was that "the best way to achieve [Palestinian statehood] is negotiation between two parties." Israel's responded with a threat to annex additional territory. Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman declared that "[i]t is clear any such step by the Palestinians would not pass without an Israeli response." here, and here