U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Susan E. Rice today said Palestinians bid for statehood is not going to happen at the United Nations unless and until there’s a negotiated settlement between the two parties during CBS “Early Show” interview.
Ms. Rice stressed during the interview that through negotiations between two parties, the borders are sorted out, security is sorted out, the capital is sorted out, refugees are sorted out, water issues, and all critical things.
“What President Obama said last year was very specific. He said he wanted to see an agreement that resulted in the seating of a Palestinian state. And indeed, that’s very much what we do want to see, because it’s in the interest of the Palestinians. It’s in the interest of Israel. It’s very much in the United States’ interest.” -Ms. Rice
She stessed that the key word is agreement. She said the two parties, which last year at this time looked like they might again sit down and stay at the negotiating table, have failed to do so.
“And we have been working since President Obama’s second day in office to bring the two parties back to the table. And we’re going to continue to do that through this week and thereafter, because the reality is there’s no shortcut to statehood.” -Ms. Rice
Ms. Rice stressed that the U.S. view is not that the Palestinians shouldn’t have a state. She pointed out that Palestinians should live side by side in peace and security with the Jewish state of Israel.
“But that can only happen through negotiations. And that’s the message that President Obama will convey today to President Abbas.” -Ms. Rice
She underscored that the United States is quite certain that President Abbas is going to go ahead and deliver his bid to the Security Council. She pointed out that it will not succeed.
“But the fact is that, as hard as this is, there is no shortcut. There is no magic wand that can be waved or paper adopted at the United Nations that changes the real-world circumstances on the ground for the Palestinian people.” -Ms. Rice
She stressed that both sides know, even the Palestinians know, as they pursue the gambit at the United Nations, that at the end of the day they too have to get back to the negotiating table or there won’t ever be a real Palestinian state.