JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister is predicting that the Palestinians' statehood bid at the United Nations this week will fail and accused the Palestinians of "doing all they can to torpedo direct negotiations for peace."
The Palestinians have said they will ask the Security Council to endorse their membership at the U.N.
The Palestinians say they don't think peace talks can produce a Palestinian state at this point.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday that "peace is achieved only through direct negotiations."
Washington has threatened to veto the bid if it reaches the Security Council.
That would leave the Palestinians the option of seeking the lesser status of nonmember observer state from the General Assembly.
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