UNITED NATIONS: In an attempt to endear herself to the powerful Jewish lobby, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice on Wednesday objected to the words “State of Palestine” inscribed on a placard in the Security Council, warning that the move would not lead to a Palestinian state. The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in November to grant the status of a “non-member observer state” to Palestine.

The US does not consider (UN Assembly) resolution 67/19 as bestowing Palestinian ‘statehood’ or recognition. Only direct negotiations to settle final status issues will lead to this outcome,” Rice told the Council in its monthly meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

“Therefore, in our view, any reference to the ‘State of Palestine’ in the United Nations, including the use of the term ‘State of Palestine’ on the placard in the Security Council or its use in the invitation to this meeting do not reflect acquiescence that ‘Palestine’ is a state,” she stressed.

This statement of our position, she added, “shall apply to Palestinian participation in meetings of United Nations Security Council or in other UN meetings, regardless of whether the United States specifically intervenes on this matter in the future”.

No other member state except for Canada objected to the placard nor did they agree with Ms Rice’s interpretation of the issue, which led diplomats to speculate about the motives behind the outburst by US Ambassador Susan Rice.