Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Friday asked the United Nations to recognize a state of Palestine, despite U.S. and Israeli opposition against the bid.

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly after receiving a standing ovation, the president of the Palestinian Authority called Israel “the occupying power” and said its control of Palestinian enclaves is a policy of “colonial settlement occupation.”

Mr. Abbas said that due to the expansion of Israeli housing in Palestinian territories the peace process has broken down, leaving the Palestinians no alternative but to seek statehood unilaterally. He added that Israel's continued settlement building is a threat to Palestinian existence.

Mr. Abbas said no one with a “shred of conscience” could reject the Palestinian bid for statehood. He drew thunderous applause when he held up a copy of the proposal that he had submitted to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.

Israel has opposed the Palestinian statehood move, saying it does not advance Mideast peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the assembly shortly with the Israeli response to Mr. Abbas.

The U.N. Security Council could take weeks to consider the application, which would allow more time for diplomacy before the Palestinians consider their next move – approaching the U.N. General Assembly to upgrade their status to a non-voting observer state.