The United States has warned European countries that supporting unilateral moves by the Palestinian Authority at the United Nations, where the Palestinians are attempting to achieve non-member observer status outside of a negotiated framework with Israel, would be “extremely counterproductive”and result in “significant negative consequences.” In a private memo, the U.S. urged those countries to block the bid, stating that only direct Palestinian- Israeli negotiations can lead to statehood. U.S. officials have indicated that they will cut financing to the Palestinian Authority if, as the Palestinians are seeking, the U.N. backs their bid by the end of the year.

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