Obama punts to Congress over repercussions for UN Palestine vote

◼ Palestinian Authority President Declares Jerusalem 'Eternal Capital of Palestine'... - israelnationalnews.com

◼ Obama punts to Congress over repercussions for UN Palestine vote - Julian Pecquet /The Hill

The White House won't seek to punish the Palestinian Authority for this week's statehood vote at the United Nations, but did not vow to veto pending legislative proposals to cut off U.S. aid in retaliation.

The U.N. General Assembly voted 138-9 on Thursday to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as a non-member observer state, over the strident objections of the United States and Israel. In response, the Senate is expected to vote next week on legislation placing new restrictions on the $600 million in annual U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Questions about repercussions are “better directed at the Congress than at us,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Friday. She said the State Department is still trying to release $495 million in pending funds for fiscal year 2012 that were held up following the Palestinians' failed effort last year to become a full member of the U.N.

◼ U.N. “Palestine” vote served Obama’s purposes, without his fingerprints on it - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion

There is no middle ground anymore. There is Obama’s way as adopted by the General Assembly, a return to 1967 maybe with some minor swaps, and then there is the way of Israeli security needs. The two are not compatible.

This could have been stopped, and a middle ground preserved for negotiation, had the Obama administration done more than some tepid rhetoric.

But that would not have served Obama’s goal: To force an Israeli return to 1967, with some minor modifications.

The U.N. General Assembly vote served Obama’s purposes, without his fingerprints on it.

◼ Legal Implication of the United Nations Resolution on Palestine - Alan Dershowitz/Algemeiner