TEL AVIV, August 15, 2011 (WAFA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent 40 personal messages to leaders of African and Latin American countries asking them to oppose the recognition of a Palestinian state in the United Nations in September, said the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot on Monday.

The newspaper said Netanyahu sent a number of Israeli ambassadors to the leaders of these countries to carry this message.

The message said, “this September, the UN General Assembly will meet, and we ask you to oppose the recognition of a Palestinian state, because Palestinians are abstaining from negotiations based on mutual solutions and they are breaking agreements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel”.

“Going to the UN poses a question mark about direct negotiations that are the basis for finding solutions to the conflict,” added the message.

Israel is carrying out a worldwide diplomatic campaign to prevent recognition of a Palestinian state in September.

F.J.