Saturday August 27, 2011 12:05:34 PM, Agencies

Jerusalem: A senior American diplomat reportedly warned on Friday that the United States would cut aid to the Palestinian Authority if it asks the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state next month.

"In case the Palestinian Authority seeks to upgrade its position at the UN through the General Assembly, the US Congress will take punitive measures against it, including a cut in US aid," Al Jazeera quoted Daniel Rubinstein, the US consul general in Jerusalem, citing a statement.

Rubinstein also said the United States would veto any resolution in the Security Council.

Rubinstein reportedly made those threats during a meeting with Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator, according to a statement issued by Erekat's office.

But a US State Department spokesman said in an e-mail that Erekat's statement "is not an accurate portrayal of the US position," and denied that Rubinstein made those comments.

Several members of Congress - Democrats and Republicans alike - have already threatened to slash aid for the PA if it pursues the statehood vote.

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Lok Sabha to sit Saturday, may discuss Lokpal

The government Friday announced that the Lok Sabha will function Saturday, indicating that the discussion on different versions of the Lokpal   »

Parliament to discuss three versions of Lokpal bill Friday: Khurshid

LNJP Hospital gears up to receive Hazare

  Most Read

Lokpal bill alone can't end corruption: Rahul Gandhi

As uncertainty continued on whether Anna Hazare would end his 11-day fast for a strong Lokpal bill, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said Friday that the bill alone could not eradicate corruption  »

Israel using new methods to torture Palestinians, Arab prisoners

The Mandela Institute for Political Prisoners said in a press statement that the Israeli internal intelligence agency Shin Bet has been using painful means — mental and physical — of torture that leave fewer physical evidence such as forcing prisoners to sit in tiny chairs with hands and feet tied,  »

  News Pick

Gujarat governor, government on collision course on Lokayukta

The Gujarat governor and the government Friday seemed to be on a collision course after the former appointed retired high court judge R.A. Mehta as the state's new Lokayukta and the   »

Rajiv Gandhi killers to hang Sep 9

he three men facing death penalty for the 1991 assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi will be hanged Sep 9 in Tamil Nadu's  »

Spare Rajiv assassins' lives: Karunanidhi to Sonia

Gaddafi kept album of Condoleezza Rice's photos

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi kept a photo album filled with pictures of former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and claimed to "love" and "admire" her because she was a "black woman of African origin", a  »

Who is robbing parliament's dignity?

As the peoples' uprising against a venal political class in India shows no signs of abating, a strange din is evident in some debates and comments. Apart  »

Anna supporter enters parliament complex, detained

Picture of the Day

Anna mocks Congress charge of RSS, BJP support. But in Malegaon, BJP is using hoardings to garner support for Hazare. Also, there are good number of BJP workers and hardcore RSS activists in the rallies called to support Hazare.

(Photo: ummid.com)