Mideast developments

All 15 members of the U.N. Security Council on Monday called for “urgent efforts” to create a separate Palestinian state and achieve an overall Mideast peace settlement. Speaker after speaker warned of more violence unless efforts are made to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, reconcile divided Palestinian factions and renew talks between Israel and Syria. But Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev objected, saying Israel doesn’t believe the involvement of the Security Council contributes to the political process in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought Egypt’s help Monday in building a coalition of Arab nations against Iran, framing the broader Middle East conflict as one in which moderates must band together to confront extremists. But Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, after talks in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, said peace with the Palestinians is necessary to bring stability and reinforce cooperation in the region.