A senior US diplomat has warned that the United States would cut financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) if it pursues a statehood vote at the United Nations next month.
"In case the Palestinian Authority seeks to upgrade its position at the UN through the General Assembly, the US Congress will take punitive measures against it, including a cut in US aid," said the US Consul General in (al-Qods) Jerusalem Daniel Rubinstein, Al Jazeera reported.
Rubinstein went on to say that any resolution on the statehood of Palestine referred to the Security Council by the UN General Assembly will be vetoed by the United States.
Several members of US Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have already threatened to cut off American funds to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority if it seeks to win the UN recognition of an independent Palestinian statehood.
Acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas plans to attend a UN General Assembly meeting next month to upgrade the Palestinian status to an independent state and gain full UN membership for the country.
Palestinians have been campaigning to acquire the UN recognition for an independent state that encompasses the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and illegally annexed East al-Quds -- the territories the Israeli regime captured and annexed in its Six-Day War of 1967.
Over 100 countries have already endorsed the 1988 Palestinian declaration of independent statehood.
UN membership requires a recommendation from the Security Council and a two-thirds approval of the world body's General Assembly, or 128 countries.
"In case the Palestinian Authority seeks to upgrade its position at the UN through the General Assembly, the US Congress will take punitive measures against it, including a cut in US aid," said the US Consul General in (al-Qods) Jerusalem Daniel Rubinstein, Al Jazeera reported.
Rubinstein went on to say that any resolution on the statehood of Palestine referred to the Security Council by the UN General Assembly will be vetoed by the United States.
Several members of US Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have already threatened to cut off American funds to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority if it seeks to win the UN recognition of an independent Palestinian statehood.
Acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas plans to attend a UN General Assembly meeting next month to upgrade the Palestinian status to an independent state and gain full UN membership for the country.
Palestinians have been campaigning to acquire the UN recognition for an independent state that encompasses the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and illegally annexed East al-Quds -- the territories the Israeli regime captured and annexed in its Six-Day War of 1967.
Over 100 countries have already endorsed the 1988 Palestinian declaration of independent statehood.
UN membership requires a recommendation from the Security Council and a two-thirds approval of the world body's General Assembly, or 128 countries.
