Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to deliver a defiant message to the UN on Friday against a Palestinian state, but faces rare pressure from US President Donald Trump who seeks a deal on Gaza.

Netanyahu will address the United Nations General Assembly days after France, Britain and several other Western powers took the landmark step of recognizing a state of Palestine, acting out of exasperation over Israel's relentless two-year offensive in Gaza.

The longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history has long rejected a Palestinian state and his far-right allies have mulled annexing the West Bank to kill any real prospect of an independent Palestine.

But Trump, normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has warned against annexation as he pitches a peace plan on Gaza tha

See Full Page