Clinton laments ‘counter-productive’ U.N. vote on Palestine

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton walks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah November 21. Photo by Marko Djurica/Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the U.N. General Assembly's vote to implicitly recognize a Palestinian state, calling it an "unfortunate and counter-productive" move that places more obstacles in the path to peace.

"We have been clear that only through direct negotiations between the parties can the Palestinians and Israelis achieve the peace they both deserve: two states for two people with a sovereign, viable independent Palestine living side by side in peace and security with a Jewish and democratic Israel," Clinton said in a speech in Washington on foreign policy trends.

Reporting By Andrew Quinn; Editing by Eric Beech