Cardin, Collins warn Palestinian President Abbas of consequences for seeking UN statehood

Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that they oppose any Palestinian attempt to pursue non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly.

In a letter to Abbas sent Wednesday, Collins and Cardin said Palestinian statehood should come from a peace agreement with Israel, not the U.N.

Their letter came after Abbas said he would present a bid for non-member state status in New York when the U.N. meets on Nov. 29.

“We write to express our deep concern over your stated intention to pursue non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly later this month,” Cardin and Collins wrote. “Like President Obama, who has clearly conveyed to you his opposition to such a move at the U.N., we believe that peace is better served by directly negotiating with Israel rather than by taking these types of unilateral actions.”

The senators reminded Abbas of S. Res. 185, which passed in the Senate and expressed opposition to any attempt to establish or seek recognition of a Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians.

“Should you decide, however, to bypass direct negotiations and unilaterally seek upgraded status at the U.N., we want to again remind you of the potential for significant consequences,” the letter stated. “As S. Res. 185 notes, any such efforts may cause consequences in regards to U.S. policy and foreign aid.”

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