setUoYouRPROFILE's blog: "tufui"

ERUSALEM/NEW YORK — Israel is coming under international pressure to limit the scale of its threatened retaliation to a Palestinian statehood bid amid warnings of an explosion of violence in the region. U.S. and European diplomats were scrambling for a compromise on Monday that would recognize Palestinian aspirations,juicy couture outlet placate Israel and persuade both sides to resume negotiations. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, arrived in New York on Monday before he gives his historic address to the UN General Assembly on Friday, when he will make his case for international recognition of a sovereign state of Palestine. Mr Abbas admitted he had come under "tremendous pressure" to drop his bid and return to talks with Israel, but insisted he would not back down. "We have decided to take this step and all hell has broken out against us," he said. In a sign of unease among supporters of the Palestinian cause in Europe, France called on Mr Abbas to make an explicit commitment to peace talks. Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, said the present Palestinian position was "neither acceptable nor tenable". William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary, said Britain was trying to "exert as much pressure on both sides to return to negotiation" but declined to say how it would vote on the issue this week. President Barack Obama has said he will use the U.S. veto to block the Palestinian bid when it comes to the Security Council, but there is mounting concern in Washington over how Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, proposes to respond to the Palestinian bid. The Israeli government has warned of unspecified consequences if the Palestinians submit their application. Some Israeli politicians have called on Israel to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and stop the disbursement of customs revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Mr Obama has sent envoys to Jerusalem to countenance against such a course, arguing that it could cause the collapse of the authority, which would ultimately harm Israel's security. Under the leadership of Mr Abbas, the authority has forged a close security relationship with Israel. Palestinian forces have eliminated militant groups in the West Bank, almost halting terrorist attacks on undisputed Israeli territory. But many in the Palestinian forces are former militants who fought against Israel during the Second Intifada in the previous decade. Some say they are angry at the prospect of Israel and the United States blocking Palestinian statehood. "There will be a massive military intifada if the Israelis do not accept a Palestinian state," one former militant now in the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank city of Jenin said. "If the people start an intifada, I will join the people." So far, the loyalty of many former militants in the security forces has been bought by regular wages. Moderate voices in the Israeli security and political establishment warn that if Palestinian customs revenues, worth $107 million a month, are withheld, the authority will not be able to afford to pay those salaries. Many Palestinian servicemen have already been on half-pay for two months after Arab donor states failed to distribute promised funds to Mr Abbas. Congress is also threatening to suspend $466 million in aid if the Palestinian bid goes ahead, a sanction that could also trigger the collapse of the authority. Without the authority, Israeli troops would have to return to Palestinian cities in the West Bank, which could lead to confrontations with protesters.