UNITED NATIONS
Top US envoy to the United Nations reacted Wednesday to a placard that read "State of Palestine" resting on the desk from which Palestinian foreign minister spoke during a Security Council session.
"[... 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 the use of the term 'State of Palestine' in the invitation to this meeting or other arrangements for participation in this meeting, do not reflect acquiescence that 'Palestine' is a state," Susan Rice, US permanent representative to the UN told the Security Council meeting.
Palestine's Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki was addressing Wednesday council members on Israel's latest settlement plans for the first time since UN General Assembly approved raising of Palestine's status at the organization to "non-member observer state" last November.
Rice said there was no change in the US position on Palestine's status, adding the US did not recognize the General Assembly vote "as bestowing Palestinian 'statehood' or recognition."
"Only direct negotiations to settle final status issues will lead to this outcome," she said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting Al-Maliki rejected Rice's remarks: "We did not put that nameplate there by using force. That is the result of the General Assembly's decision. We expect all members to respect the November 29 decision. Voting against the decision doesn't entail disrespecting it."
