WASHINGTON (JTA) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said it was premature to speculate about a possible Palestinian bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations.
“This isn’t the time to detail private conversations or speculate on a U.N. Security Council resolution that hasn’t even been tabled, no matter what pronouncements are made publicly about it,” Kerry said Tuesday in London, a day after he had met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome and just before scheduled meetings with Palestinian officials.
Palestinian officials said they hoped to advance a statehood recognition resolution this week through the U.N. Security Council. One Palestinian official said this week that the Palestinians did not have the needed nine votes lined up to get the resolution passed.
“Many of us share a deep sense of urgency about this, given the constant threat of escalation and the dangers of a downward spiral of violence,” Kerry said. “But we’re also very mindful that we have to carefully calibrate any steps that are taken for this difficult moment in the region.”
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