Former president Jimmy Carter calls on Barack Obama to recognise Palestinian statehood before leaving office

Mr Carter also criticised Israeli settlement building on Palestinian land

Mr Obama previously told Israel it cannot permanently occupy and settle on Palestinian land

Former president Jimmy Carter has called on Barack Obama to recognise Palestinian statehood before he leaves office.

Mr Carter, who has been outspoken about Palestinian rights and has urged a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, said Palestine should achieve full United Nations membership.

In an article published in The New York Times, the former president wrote: "I am convinced that the United States can still shape the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before a change in presidents, but time is very short."

He added: "The simple but vital step this administration must take before its term expires on Jan. 20 is to grant American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine."

Mr Carter also said the UN Security council should pass a resolution "laying out the parameters for resolving the conflict".

Such a resolution, he wrote, should "reaffirm the illegality of all Israeli settlements beyond the 1967 borders," with further measures including the demilitarisation of the Palestinian state and a possible UN peacekeeping force.

He also criticised the building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

"Israel is building more and more settlements, displacing Palestinians and entrenching its occupation of Palestinian lands," he wrote. "Over 4.5 million Palestinians live in these occupied territories, but are not citizens of Israel.

"Most live largely under Israeli military rule, and do not vote in Israel’s national elections."

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Israel accept help from Palestine after forest fires

Mr Obama has been critical of Israel, telling the nation it cannot permanently occupy and settle on Palestinian land.

In a speech to the United Nations, the US president said both sides would benefit if Israel recognised it cannot permanently occupy the land and if Palestinians rejected incitement and recognised Israel's legitimacy.

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However, while President-elect Trump said he would continue with the current US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an advisor said he was "sceptical" of the efficacy of a two-state solution in October.

An Israeli government minister said his victory meant "the era of a Palestinian state is over".

In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York in September, Mr Trump said he would take the unusual step of recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a statement which angered Palestinians, who also claim the city as their own.