Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today that there is "broad agreement" on a Palestinian state and the gap between Israel and Palestinians involves emotions more than territorial differences.
"Yesterday, you would hardly find ... support for a Palestinian state," he told the United Nations General Assembly.
"Today, there is broad agreement that the creation of an independent Palestinian state - non-military and economically viable - is the best bet," he said.
Mr Peres has endorsed a Palestinian state in the past but never before at the United Nations.
His speech followed pleas by dozens of governments around the world for a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a way to get at the roots of terrorism following Sept. 11 attacks in the United States that killed about 4,500 people.
US President Bush also endorsed a Palestinian state. The United States, eager to end Israeli-Palestinian violence to keep Arab nations on board its anti-terror coalition, is reportedly preparing a new peace initiative.
