In an effort to dissuade Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasfrom seeking statehood at the United Nations this month, Washington plans to initiate a renewal of peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. American Administration officials hope the resumption of talks will avert a clash with the Palestinian Authority seeking recognition asa member state at the U.N. later this month. The United States has already warned it would veto the Palestinian bid. Senior American government officials and foreign diplomats said the United States wants to avoid casting a vote in the U.N. General Assembly that would leave Washington and a small number of other countries opposed to the Palestinian move. Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath said Sunday if the U.N.bid fails, the Palestinian leadership would seek full membership of every U.N.organization and would continue submitting the statehood bid until it is received. He declared the Palestinians would not return to the negotiating table with Israel before the vote later this month.
