Thursday's global agenda: Happy birthday Palestine?

Your morning global affairs speed-read

The United Nations is expected to overwhelmingly approve the Palestinians' bid for non-member observer state status today, over the stringent objections of Israel and the United States. The Obama administration maintains that the move could hurt chances for a two-state solution, but Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says those talks have been going nowhere anyway and this could help the Palestinian cause.

Lawmakers are expected to try to cut funding to some specialized U.N. agencies if the Palestinians seek membership in them. And Republicans are likely to seek to blame Obama for failing to stop the Palestinian bid, even though Abbas appears to have been working to line up international support since at least 2005. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is holding a press conference at noon.

Euro-trade: A delegation of European parliamentarians arrives in Washington today to launch a barrier-free transatlantic market. They're meeting with the Ways and Means Committee behind closed doors on Friday.

Mending bridges: Ukraine's foreign minister, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, arrives in Washington today following disputed parliamentary elections last month that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called “a step backward.”

On the Hill: The House Foreign Affairs Committee's Western Hemisphere panel marks up legislation to shut Argentina out of U.S. capital markets (H.R. 1798). In the morning, the full committee holds a hearing on Israel's right to defend itself with a trio of pro-Israel conservatives.

In other news: 

The Obama administration is weighing deeper intervention in Syria, reports The New York Times.

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) is being vetted for a possible top national security post. [Foreign Policy]

U.S. ally Qatar is increasingly supporting Islamists, The Washington Post reports.

What you might have missed on Global Affairs:

Republican split on Rice could yield her enough votes if nominated for State

Obama 'couldn't be prouder' of Rice

Senate passes amendment allowing more Marines at US consulates, embassies

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