REPORT

U.S., Europe Seek U.N. Vote Delay

To revive Israel-Palestine peace talks.

The U.S. and Europe are trying to delay Friday’s United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood in an effort to revive peace talks and avoid a U.S. veto, officials told The Wall Street Journal Tuesday. President Obama will meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to persuade Palestine to abandon its bid for U.N. recognition—despite the fact that U.S. and European diplomats fully expect Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to go through with his pledge to apply for formal U.N. membership. Officials told the Journal that Washington and its European allies on the Security Council will refer Abbas’s application to a panel for further discussion. That process, which could take months, will allow the U.S. and its European allies more time in the Israel-Palestine peace talks—which could crumble if a vote occurs at all.