in VOA Special English.Palestinians broughttheir calls for independenceto the United Nations this week.Palestinian AuthorityPresident Mahmoud Abbas spoketo the General Assembly on Friday.MAHMOUD ABBAS: "I saythe time has comefor my courageous and proud people,after decades of displacementand colonial occupationand ceaseless suffering,to live like other peoplesof the earth, free in a sovereignand independent homeland."Mr. Abbas asked the United Nationsto admit Palestineas a full member based onnineteen sixty-seven borders.Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu spokea short timeafter the Palestinian leader.BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: "The truthis that we cannot achieve peacethrough UN resolutionsbut only through directnegotiations between the parties.The truth is thatso far the Palestinianshave refused to negotiate.The truth is that Israel wantspeace with a Palestinian statebut the Palestinianswant a state without peace."The UN Security Councilcould take weeks to considerthe request for full membership.That would give more timefor diplomatic effortsto restart peace talks.The Palestinians could alsoseek more recognitionin the General Assemblyas a non-voting observer state.Another big story this week:top American officialspublicly linked Pakistan'smain intelligence agency to attacksagainst American targets.The United States'top military officeraccused Pakistan of supportingattacks by the al-Qaida-linkedHaqqani network.Admiral Mike Mullen spokeat a Senate hearing;he retires next weekas chairman of the JointChiefs of Staff.He said Pakistan'sInter-Services Intelligence agencysupported the truck bombingby Haqqani operativeson a NATO base on September tenth.He said the ISI also supportedan attack on the American Embassyin Kabul two days later.Admiral Mullen saidthe Haqqani network has deep tiesto the Pakistani government.MIKE MULLEN: "The Haqqani network,for one, acts as a veritable armof Pakistan's internal servicesintelligence agency."He says the United Statesshould still try to workwith Pakistan.But he warned that the relationship-- and the future of Pakistan-- could be in danger.MIKE MULLEN: "By exporting violence,they've eroded their internal securityand their position in the region.They've undermined theirinternational credibilityand threatened their economic well-being.Only a decision to breakwith this policy can pave the roadto a positive future for Pakistan."Defense Secretary Leon Panettaalso spoke at the Senate hearing.LEON PANETTA: "We cannot allowterrorists to have safe havensfrom which they launch attacksand kill our forces.We cannot allow that to happen,and we have to bring pressureon the Pakistanis to do their partto confront that issue."Relations have worsenedsince the killing of Osama bin Ladenat his home in Pakistanearlier this year.Michael O'Hanlon iswith the Brookings Institutionin Washington.MICHAEL O'HANLON: "I think Pakistanis just going to have to wake upand smell the rosesthat this is not consistentwith an ongoing relationshipin which the United Statesprovides three and a halfbillion dollars a year in aid."On Friday, the White Housepress secretary said Pakistanmust break any links it haswith the Haqqani network.Pakistani Foreign MinisterHina Rabbani Khar saidthe United States riskslosing Pakistan as a partnerif it continuesto make such accusations.She spoke on Pakistan's Geo TV.HINA RABBANI KHAR: "You will lose an ally,you cannot afford to alienate Pakistan,you cannot affordto alienate the Pakistani people.If you are choosing to do so,it will be at their own cost."And that's IN THE NEWSin VOA Special English.