The United States has repeated its opposition to any unilateral efforts by the Palestinians to request U.N. recognition for an independent state.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Wednesday that the U.S. goal is to get the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. She said the Palestinian Authority's plan to go to the United Nations in September and ask for an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem is not a good idea, and is not helpful.

Nuland made her remarks as Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat was meeting Wednesday with U.S. officials in Washington.

Palestinian leaders have confirmed they will seek state recognition based on pre-1967 borders, as well as U.N. membership.

In addition to the U.S., Israel has denounced the Palestinian U.N. initiative, saying it would shatter efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the Middle East conflict. But many Palestinians say the move will strengthen efforts to renew negotiations with Israel.

Talks between the two sides have been stalled since last September, partly due to Palestinian objections to Israeli settlement construction on land they want as part of a future state.

About 100 nations already have recognized a Palestinian state in one form or another, and a formal vote for recognition at the U.N. General Assembly would be a diplomatic victory. But only the U.N. Security Council has the legal power to add nations to the world body.