United Nations, Sep 24 (IANS): Palestine Friday formally applied to the UN for its membership, Xinhua reported.

The application was forwarded to the president of the UN Security Council, hours after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received it from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a UN spokesman said.

The letter was submitted on the sidelines of the 66th General Assembly session Friday.

Nawaf Salam, Lebanese ambassador to the UN, holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for September.

The council, whose approval is required for new UN membership, will consider the application Sep 26.

Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had said in Tel Aviv that Israel would pull out of talks with Palestine if it goes ahead with its plans to gain UN membership.

During his 40-minute speech at the assembly, the Palestinian president was greeted with applause from the packed hall of the 193-nation assembly.

Abbas said: "At a time when the Arab people affirm their quest for democracy -- the Arab Spring -- the time is now for the Palestinian Spring, the time for independence."

Meanwhile, the US, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a close ally of Israel, threatened to veto any move to recognise Palestine on the ground that the Middle East peace should be achieved through direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis.

The UN membership is open to nations that accept the UN Charter. The General Assembly admits new member states on the recommendation of the Security Council.