Sen. Joe Lieberman (I., Conn.) expressed regret Wednesday at the United Nations being poised to officially recognize Palestine, adding that the Palestinian people will only achieve statehood through talks with the Israelis on "Andrea Mitchell Reports."
"The vote in the United Nations is not surprising, but still disappointing because nothing is achieved by it," he said. "The only way to create progress toward the two-state solution, which I support and most people certainly here in Congress support, a Jewish state of Israel living in peace next to a Palestinian state, both independent, that's only going to be accomplished by direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians."
The Washington Free Beacon reported on the likelihood of the United Nations recognizing Palestine with the resolution today:
The resolution is expected to garner the support of more than 130 of the G.A.’s 193 members. This is the second time Abbas has sought to unilaterally circumvent the peace process by winning U.N. approval for the state of Palestine.
One-time opponents Britain and France have come out in favor of the resolution. Israel and the United States continue to oppose the measure as does Germany.
The U.S. maintains that Abbas’ U.N. bid is "counterproductive."
"We view unilateral steps, including the bid for upgraded status to statehood—observer state status at the General Assembly—to be counterproductive and not take us closer to that goal, and, therefore, we strongly oppose it," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice told reporters last week.
Abbas is likely to be victorious despite U.S. opposition.