Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is calling on the Obama administration not to veto a UN Security Council vote for Palestinian statehood.

“If I were president, I’d be very glad to see the Palestinians have a nation recognized by the United Nations.”-Jimmy Carter, NPR interview

Carter does believe that if President Obama did not veto Palestinian statehood, then the powerful Israeli lobby in the U.S. would punish Obama.  The United Nations begins a new session on September 20.  The Palestinians will push for recognition this week.