TEL AVIV—Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations General Assembly Thursday that he would present a security council resolution against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

He called on the U.N.’s permanent members—the U.S., Russia, Britain, France and China—not to veto the resolution, an apparent message to the U.S., which has repeatedly rejected resolutions perceived as damaging to Israel as it debates a move on the Middle East peace process.

“We are undertaking extensive consultations with the Arab countries and other friendly countries on this matter,” he said. “We hope no one will cast a veto.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the floor shortly after Mr. Abbas, delivering a fiery speech in which he called the assembly a “moral farce” for what he called a perceived bias against Israel and warning against any anti-settlement resolution proposed by Mr. Abbas.

“I have one message for you today: Lay down your arms,” he said. “Does anyone really believe that Israel will let the U.N. determine our security?”