USA ENVOY NIKKI HALEY: PALESTINE IS NOT ANY STATE AT ALL: “The Palestinians are not a UN Member State or any state at all. The United States will continually point that out in our remarks at UN events led by the Palestinians,” USA Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said. She spoke after the UNGA placed the PA at the head of a group of 134 nations, known as the Group of 77. To do so, it had to temporarily confer additional rights on the Palestinians, who have a non-member state status at the United Nations. “Today’s UN mistake undermines the prospects for peace by encouraging the illusion held by some Palestinian leaders that they can advance their goals without direct peace negotiations”. Her office added, “The United States does not recognize a Palestinian state, notes that no such state has been admitted as a UN Member State, and does not believe that the Palestinians are eligible to be admitted as a UN Member State.” USA deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Cohen told the UNGA that it planned to remind the UN that the Palestinians had not achieved statehood. His words were consistent with the United States position that recognition of Palestinian statehood should only occur after an agreement is reached ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (J.Post)