Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has called for a meeting in New York with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, to relaunch "direct negotiations" over the Palestinian Authority's bid for recognition from the United Nations.
The move is a sign that hopes of reviving peace talks and avoiding a vote on statehood at the United Nations were not dead yet.
"The prime minister is interested in a meeting with the president of the Palestinian Authority in New York," Mr Netanyahu's office said in a brief statement.
"I call on the president of the Palestinian Authority to open up direct negotiations in New York and that they resume in Jerusalem and Ramallah," the West Bank headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, it said.
Mr Abbas told Fox News that he was willing to meet Mr Netanyahu at the UN this week. He said he had not given up on negotiations but "there is no use if there is nothing tangible."
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, said there was still time to find a solution to the diplomatic crisis surrounding Mr Abbas's attempt to gain membership to the UN.
"We continue to believe and are pressing the point that the only way to a two-state solution, which is what we support and want to see happen, is through negotiations," she said.
"No matter what does or doesn't happen this week, it will not produce the kind of result that everyone is hoping for."
Labour peer Lord Levy, talking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said Britain's role in the process would be key in the short-term: "We are one of the five perma members of and it isn't absolutely clear that the Palestinians would get nine supportive votes, which would determine whether a veto woudl be necessary.
"At the moment we can have an influence. France and Spain would be supportive of a state, but Germany and Italy are vascilating. Therefore our role, which is normally very marginal, at this moment can be more important in terms of determining the next move."
Mr Abbas is due to hold talks on the issue with Barack Obama on Wednesday, ahead of the vote on Friday.
The US strongly objects to the Palestinian Authority's plan to seek membership of the UN, and full recognition of its statehood, and is frantically trying to avoid the vote taking place.
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