Israel 'disappointed' with US stance on UN bid

25/11/2012 (updated) 26/11/2012 
Maan News Agency
https://mail.hudsonny.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=541736 \t _blank http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=541736

TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma’an) -- Israeli leaders are disappointed that the US is not putting more pressure on President Mahmoud Abbas to call off his bid for upgraded UN status this week, Israeli daily Maariv reported Sunday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have strongly criticized the US for their reticence, the report said.

Israeli leaders expressed their frustration to US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton when she visited Israel earlier this week amid the conflict in Gaza.

The US has stood by Israel in its condemnation of the diplomatic move as unilateral and unhelpful for peace talks.

But according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Clinton urged Israel not to punish Abbas' administration for the bid.

Israeli officials have threatened various punitive actions, including withdrawing Palestinian tax revenues, supporting more settlement building, and canceling past agreements.

Fatah official Abbas Zaki said Sunday that Clinton had successfully persuaded Israel to call off punitive measures.

Maariv said Israeli officials, knowing they could no longer avert the bid, were trying to pick off supporters to prevent a landslide vote in favor.