Nabil Abu Rdeneh said President Mahmoud Abbas had a long phone conversation with Obama on Sunday evening.[break]
He said Obama "expresses his opposition to this step," but Abbas replied he would carry on.
In Washington, the White House press office said that Obama "reiterated the United States´ opposition to unilateral efforts at the United Nations."
Obama also "reaffirmed his commitment to Middle East peace and his strong support for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians" for a peace accord, the White House said.
The U.S. and Israel have opposed upgrading the Palestinian status at the world body to nonmember observer state.
Israel and the U.S. say a Palestinian state can be established only through negotiations.
Talks broke down four years ago over the issue of Israeli settlement construction in lands the Palestinians claim for a state.
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