But for now, the chance of the Palestinians accepting the carrot of American support for statehood looks like a long shot.
American support for Palestinian statehood is therefore crucial, and a veto will have profound negative consequences.
But if the UN votes to recognise statehood, the American rejection of that result will also be a mistake.
And despite the administration's scorn for Bill Clinton's personal diplomacy in the Middle East, the president had agreed in a National Security Council meeting, the conclusions of which were later artfully leaked, to reaffirm American support for Palestinian statehood and authorize a more active American role in the region.
But earlier this year a 26-star American flag commemorating Michigan statehood, circa 1837, brought just $3,600 at Sotheby's, well below the estimate of $5,000 to $10,000.
California was under American military control immediately before statehood; it was never a United States territory.
American officials say that Palestinian statehood at the United Nations will jeopardize the peace process; Israel is adamantly opposed to United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state.
Once the territory of the Kumeyaay Indians, the area now known as Chula Vista was claimed by the Spanish, the Mexicans, and then, with California's statehood (1850), the Americans.
But American support remains important to Palestinian statehood, and he has indicated that such support depends on Palestinian performance.
Minutes after Mr. Obama declared his opposition to a Palestinian bid for statehood, Mr. Sarkozy shocked American officials by urging the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians to observer status.
