The United States has warned European governments against supporting a Palestinian bid for enhanced status at the United Nations, saying such a move “would be extremely counterproductive” and have “significant negative consequences” for the peace process, the U.N. system and the Palestinian Authority, The Guardian reported Monday, October 1. A U.S. memorandum said Palestinian statehood “can only be achieved via direct negotiations with the Israelis” and urged European governments “to support [American] efforts” to block the bid. The Palestinians will wait until after the U.S. presidential election in early November before proceeding with their bid for upgraded “non-member state” status. However, they insist they will press for a vote by the end of the year and are confident of winning a comfortable majority among the U.N.’s 193 countries. The U.S. has no veto at the General Assembly.