US: Abbas statehood move at UN unwise
2011-09-21 21:43
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Washington - The US ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday called the Palestinian push for recognition by the world body "an unwise and diversionary gambit".
"There is no shortcut to statehood," said Susan Rice, who added that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should back away from his push for recognition by the UN.
Rice acknowledged in an interview on CBS' The Early Show that the US believes Abbas will proceed with his plan, nevertheless.
But in an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday, the ambassador said the statehood effort "won't succeed" at the Security Council because Abbas would need "nine affirmative votes and no vetoes."
Rice said that Israel and the Palestinians must resolve the problem at the bargaining table, arguing that lingering differences exist between the two sides over security, borders, the capital city and the Palestinian refugees.
And she said the Obama administration is concerned about a "great gap between the expectations of the Palestinian people and the reality" of the situation.
- AP
