Palestinians to push for full UN membership after Trump move The Palestinian president on Monday said it would be "crazy" to allow the United States to act as mediator on Middle East peace, pledging instead a fresh push for full UN membership. Since US President Donald Trump's December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has refused to talk to the US administration and has sought to rally international opinion against it. Speaking ahead of a meeting of the senior Palestinian leadership Monday, Abbas reiterated that the Americans could no longer play a role as a mediator in talks between Palestinians and Israel. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES