Despite Biden’s pledge to support a two-state solution, cables argue that Palestine should not be granted U.N. member status.

Ahead of the United Nations Security Council action to consider the Palestinian Authority’s application to become a full member of the international body, the United States is lobbying nations to reject such membership, hoping to avoid an overt “veto” by Washington. The lobbying effort, revealed in copies of unclassified State Department cables obtained by The Intercept, is at odds with the Biden administration’s pledge to fully support a two-state solution.

While clarifying that President Joe Biden has worked vigorously to support “Palestinian aspirations for statehood” within the context “of a comprehensive peace that would resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” a diplomatic cable dated April 12 details U.S. talking points against a U.N. vote for Palestinian statehood. The cable says that Security Council members must be persuaded to reject any proposal for Palestinian statehood — and thereby its recognition as a sovereign nation — before the council’s open debate on the Middle East, scheduled for April 18.

“We therefore urge you not to support any potential Security Council resolution recommending the admission of ‘Palestine’ as a U.N. member state, should such a resolution be presented to the Security Council for a decision in the coming days and weeks.”

  • @jeffw
    12•8 months ago

    The State Department’s justification is that normalizing relations between Israel and Arab states is the fastest and most effective way to achieve an enduring and productive statehood.

    So there’s not opposition to a Palestinian state per se, just opposition to them joining the UN as a voting member right now. The headline is a bit of a stretch when the article says they still support statehood.

    • @Ensign_CrabEnglish
      9•8 months ago

      So there’s not opposition to a Palestinian state per se, just opposition to them joining the UN as a voting member right now.

      Just gotta hold out until it’s too late.

      • @jeffw
        0•8 months ago

        I think it’s fair to criticize the US for their role in the Palestinian genocide but I just think this article is a stretch. I legitimately think there’s an argument to be made that UN acceptance at this exact point in time would make things worse. Could the US intervene and mitigate that harm? Yes, definitely. But Israelis would be emboldened and it just increases Netanyahu’s chances of reelection if you have the UN empower then rn.

        There’s also a separate argument about “what is Palestine,” since there’s the Authority and the PLO

        • @Ensign_CrabEnglish
          3•8 months ago

          I legitimately think there’s an argument to be made that UN acceptance at this exact point in time would make things worse.

          I think that our public-facing policy involves a two state solution, while our actual policy involves doing whatever Netanyahu wants. When a centrist says “not now” they mean “not ever.”

    • @LinkerbaanOP
      2•8 months ago

      The cable says that Security Council members must be persuaded to reject any proposal for Palestinian statehood — and thereby its recognition as a sovereign nation

      • @jeffw
        3•8 months ago

        Oh boy, You love cherrypicking quotes to make it sound like the US doesn’t want Palestinian statehood even when it’s clear they do. As it clearly states, they don’t support statehood achieved through these means, since it should be done in bilateral negotiations.

        • @LinkerbaanOP
          2•8 months ago

          Yeah the US supporting a Genocidal ethnic cleansing campaign of Palestine might have given me the wrong impression.

          Good that you remind everyone Biden should wait for israel which has clearly stated they will never allow a Palestinian state to exist.

          • @jeffw
            2•8 months ago

            Good on you to pretend the state department hasn’t tried to assist those bilateral negotiations

            • @LinkerbaanOP
              3•8 months ago

              Did they put weapons restrictions and pressure on israel?

          • TheHiddenCatboyEnglish
            -1•8 months ago

            From the quote above:

            The cable says that Security Council members must be persuaded to reject any proposal for Palestinian statehood — and thereby its recognition as a sovereign nation — before the council’s open debate on the Middle East, scheduled for April 18.

            • @LinkerbaanOP
              1•8 months ago

              The cable says that Security Council members must be persuaded to reject any proposal for Palestinian statehood — and thereby its recognition as a sovereign nation — before the council’s open debate on the Middle East, scheduled for April 18.