US discourages Palestinians’ UN statehood campaign

On Wednesday, President Obama made clear his opposition to the Palestinian National Authority’s bid for statehood through the United Nations Security Council. “Ultimately it is the Israelis and the Palestinians, not us, who must reach agreement on issues that divide them,” Obama said. Israel has criticized the Palestinian Authority’s efforts as undermining the peace process, and the United States has been leading the pressure against the PA’s application. Will Obama’s remarks affect other countries’ approaches to the bid? And what are the Palestinian Authority’s chances at statehood anyway? Dore Gold, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, is currently advising the Israeli delegation.