Israel's leader is cautioning the Palestinians against taking unilateral action in their efforts to establish an independent state.

With peace talks stalled over Israeli settlement construction, Palestinians are considering sidestepping Israel by seeking UN Security Council recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — territories captured by the Jewish state in the 1967 Mideast war.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out against such an approach.

He told his Cabinet that Israel expects the Palestinians to honor their obligation to engage in direct negotiations.

He said any attempt to sidestep negotiations "isn't realistic" and would not advance peacemaking.