Obama admin punts to Congress over Palestine repercussions

The White House won’t seek to punish the Palestinian Authority for this week’s statehood vote at the United Nations, but did not vow to veto pending legislative proposals to cut off U.S. aid in retaliation. …

Questions about repercussions are “better directed at the Congress than at us,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Friday. She said the State Department is still trying to release $495 million in pending funds for fiscal year 2012 that were held up following the Palestinians’ failed effort last year to become a full member of the U.N.