US Secretary of State, John Kerry with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome. Source: AFP

The US Secretary of State met chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat to persuade him not to rush ahead with a draft UN resolution seeking to set a two-year timetable for an end to the Israeli occupation — which could be submitted to the world body as early as tonight.

Mr Kerry spent two days jetting across Europe meeting counterparts and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gauge support for the Palestinian effort at the UN Security Council.

Mr Netanyahu warned that European backing for the Palestinians could harm his country.

“I said that the attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel will only lead to a deterioration in the regional situation and will endanger Israel,” he said yesterday. “Therefore, we will strongly oppose this.”

His comments followed almost three hours of talks in Rome with Mr Kerry. They “had a long and thorough discussion about Israel’s security and developments at the UN,” a US State Department official said. Mr Kerry arrived in London yesterday, having paused en route from Rome for less than two hours in Paris to meet with European counterparts.

France is putting together a more nuanced version setting a two-year timetable for a peace treaty, without mentioning the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Mr Kerry held late-night dinner talks with the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany inside Orly airport in Paris seeking clarification on the French-led resolution bid.

Traditionally, the US has used its power of veto at the UN Security Council to shoot down what it sees as moves against its close regional ally, Israel. US officials said Washington had yet to decide whether to veto or back the French-led UN initiative.

“There are certain things we would never support,” said a State Department official.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said they were looking for “a resolution which everyone can get behind”. He added: “Even if the Palestinians have a text in their hand, the Americans have already said that they will veto it.”

Mr Netanyahu earlier said: “We will not accept attempts to dictate to us unilateral moves on a limited timetable.”

Jordan, which the Palestinians said would submit their resolution, maintained it had no immediate plans to push for an early UN vote. Jordanian ambassador to the UN Dina Kawar said: “Secretary Kerry is having meetings in Europe with a number of ministers so we are waiting to see what happens.”

Impatience is growing in ­Europe over the failure to make progress in peace talks, amid fears the Middle East risks spiralling into even greater chaos.

Several European parliaments have called on their governments to move ahead with the recognition of a Palestinian state.

The US administration opposes moves to bind negotiators’ hands through a UN resolution — particularly any attempt to set a deadline for the withdrawal of ­Israeli troops from the West Bank.

Yet a US veto risks running contrary to Washington’s avowed aim of a Palestinian state and would anger key Arab allies — many of which are much-needed partners in the US-led coalition against Islamic State militants.

Mr Kerry was also expected to meet with the secretary-general of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi.

Diplomatic sources say Paris is hoping to persuade the divided Palestinians to back their compromise resolution, rather than risk a US veto of the more muscular Arab version.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian was killed in an Israeli military operation in the Qalandiya refugee camp near Ramallah in the West Bank, medical and security sources said.

The 22-year-old man died when troops entered the camp to make an arrest, triggering clashes with residents, the sources said.

The Israeli army confirmed its special forces had launched a raid on the camp, saying troops responded when they came under fire.

AFP