Should the government decide to abstain from the UN vote on Palestinian statehood, it will serve to perpetuate a moribund peace process and further marginalise the UK in Middle Eastern affairs

As the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN looms closer, Britain remains non-committal and hints that it will abstain from the Security Council vote. Claims that such a move will encourage both sides back to the negotiating table are false, writes Guy Burton, and are indicative of political beliefs that favour a relationship with the US over that with the nations of the Middle East.