Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel would respond to any unilateral Palestinian steps particularly unilateral declarations of statehood. This was the his first response to a Palestinian initiative to ask the United Nations Security Council to endorse a Palestinian state, seen as an appeal for international backing. Speaking to the Saban Forum in Jerusalem, yesterday Netanyahu said that Israel wants negotiations toward a full peace accord and unilateral action would only unravel earlier agreements between Israel and the Palestinians. His reaction came following Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s statement yesterday that the declaration of a Palestinian state would be a mere formality once the institutions of a Palestinian state are created. Earlier Palestinian officials have they are preparing to ask the United Nations to endorse an independent state without Israel's consent because they are losing hope they can achieve their aspirations through peace talks. <br/> <br/> <br/>