Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly Friday, not long after his sometimes adversary Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a formal bid for Palestinian statehood.

Israel is opposed to formal statehood for the Palestinian Authority but Netanyahu said that does not mean Israel did not support peace negotiations.  

Netanyahu stressed that Israel was committed to maintaining positive relations with the countries in the region including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey “but most especially, I extend my hand to the Palestinian people, with whom we seek a just and lasting peace,” Netanyahu said during his UN address.

Israeli-Turkish relations have been strained since May 2010 when Israeli commandos raided a Turkish aid flotilla bound for Gaza.