Israel is hoping the United States will veto a Palestinian resolution, expected to be presented at the United Nations Security Council this week, calling for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank by November 2016.
The Palestinian resolution will be presented by Jordan – one of the nonpermanent members of the security council – if it receives enough support from council members.
A separate proposal, being drafted by France, in consultation with Britain and Germany, calls for a two-year deadline for negotiations to bring about the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Diplomatic sources say Paris is hoping to persuade the Palestinians to back their compromise resolution, rather than risk a US veto of the Arab version.
The US has traditionally used its security council veto to block UN resolutions rejected by Israel. However, the deadlock in the Middle East peace process and growing frustration with Israel's settlement construction, combined with frosty relations between president Barack Obama and Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, means a US veto can no longer be taken for granted.
US officials say Washington has still not decided how to act and much may depend on the Palestinian willingness to accept a watered-down resolution.
US secretary of state John Kerry is set to hold talks in London today with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Arab League officials after consulting last night with European foreign ministers.
Mr Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would oppose any international effort to impose a solution.
“Time after time, we have repulsed efforts to dictate conditions which have damaged the security of Israel and which do not comply with real peace,” he said. “We will not accept attempts to dictate to us unilateral moves on a limited timetable.”
With Israel in the middle of an election campaign, American and European leaders are reluctant to be seen to be exerting diplomatic pressure on the country at this juncture, fearing that such a move might boost Mr Netanyahu’s standing. At the same time, support for Palestinian statehood is increasing, with the Dáil joining a growing list of European parliaments recommending their governments recognise an independent Palestine.
If the US does impose a Security Council veto, the Palestinians are likely to seek membership of other international bodies.
Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour yesterday told members of the International Criminal Court that Palestine seeks membership in order to press claims against Israel for alleged war crimes.
