East Jerusalem, Feb 14 (IANS): Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and voiced his support for his appointment as a UN envoy to Libya.

The United States on Friday blocked Fayyad's appointment to lead the UN political mission in Libya, saying it was acting to support its ally Israel, who objected to the appointment, haaretz.com reported.

Abbas' office said on Tuesday that two had met in the morning and spoke about Israel's attempts to block the appointment. Fayyad's nomination for the post, Abbas said, proved that the UN holds him to be a diplomat of international standing whose experience can help peace and global stability.

On Saturday it emerged that Knesset Member Tzipi Livni was offered a senior position at the UN as well, a day after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley vetoed Fayyad's appointment.

Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that he opposed Fayyad's appointment and said at a cabinet meeting that he was briefed on the impending appointment several days ago.

"I said that the time has come for parity in the attitude toward Israel, and that the Palestinian side can't be given freebies all the time," he said. "The time has come for the Israeli side to get status and appointments if [Fayyad] is tapped" for the position of special UN envoy to Libya.