In news from the United Nations, another member of the U.N. Security Council, South Africa, has publicly declared its support for Palestinian statehood. The government said in a statement, “South Africa looks forward, sooner (rather) than later, to welcoming Palestine as the 194th member of the United Nations.” Meanwhile, the United Nations body UNESCO is preparing to vote as early as this week to grant Palestine membership in the body. The United States has threatened to cut off U.S. funding for UNESCO if it approves full Palestinian membership.