Ahead of a critical United Nations vote on Palestinian membership, the Biden administration is reportedly engaged in a quiet diplomatic campaign to prevent the resolution from passing.
Internal U.S. government cables obtained by sources show the White House is actively lobbying UN member states to oppose the measure, even as it publicly claims to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
One cable, sent from the U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador, describes the country’s foreign minister “agreeing with our position…not to support any UN Security Council Resolution recommending the admission of ‘Palestine’ as a UN member state.” The Ecuadorian official said she would instruct their UN ambassador to lobby other nations against the resolution.
Another cable, sent directly from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, contains detailed U.S. talking points arguing for opposing the UN vote on Palestinian statehood. The talking points suggest the Biden administration is exerting significant diplomatic pressure behind the scenes.
This contrasts with the White House’s public rhetoric, where officials have repeatedly affirmed their support for an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. President Biden himself has said he remains committed to the two-state solution.
However, the newly revealed cables indicate the administration is taking a very different approach privately, working to thwart the Palestinian bid for UN membership – a move that would grant them greater international legitimacy and pave the way for fuller statehood.
Analysts say the administration’s covert efforts to block the UN vote underscore the complexities and tensions within the U.S. government’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While public messaging may emphasize a two-state vision, private diplomacy appears focused on preventing concrete steps towards that outcome.
The decisive UN vote on Palestinian membership is expected to take place as soon as tomorrow. With the U.S. pressuring countries to oppose the resolution, the outcome remains uncertain, despite the Palestinians enjoying broad international support for their statehood aspirations.