The United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote today in favor of tacitly recognizing Palestinian statehood by giving Palestine “non-member observer state” status. The Palestinian bid has drawn wide support from European countries including France and Spain, despite threats from the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian government by withholding funds. Britain said Wednesday it would abstain from the vote barring certain assurances, including a vow by Palestinians not to extend International Criminal Court jurisdiction over the Occupied Territories. Israel had previously threatened to topple Palestinian leadership over the statehood bid, but on Thursday a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to downplay the vote’s significance.

Mark Regev: “The only way to Palestinian statehood is through peace talks, through reconciliation. By going to United Nations, the Palestinians can get a piece of paper, they can get a resolution, but nothing will change here on the ground. The only way to make a better future for Israelis and Palestinians is through peace talks. They promised that all outstanding issues would be resolved through peaceful negotiations. And by this one-sided act, we see this as — as breaking their commitments. So, of course, Israel reserves the right to respond if necessary.”

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday ahead of today’s vote. After the meeting, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the United States remains opposed to its plea for recognition.

Saeb Erekat: “Their position did not change. They conveyed a message today that we shouldn’t go to the U.N., that we will not realize the Palestinian state through the U.N. President Abbas told them we differ. We have circulated the resolution. We are not here to confront you, the Americans, or to isolate Israel. We’re here to reinstate the two-state solution on 1967 lines, and this we will do, and we will vote upon it tomorrow afternoon.”