U.S. unexpectedly vetoes anti-Israel resolution at United Nations

New York - The United States on Friday vetoed a resolution that received 14 votes in favour from the UN Security Council's 15 members, effectively killing the demand by Arab and Muslim countries to brand Israeli settlements "illegal."

US Ambassador Susan Rice cast a negative vote, which constituted a veto. The five permanent members with veto power are the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China.

Rice said the veto should not be understood as US support of Israeli settlements.

"We reject in the strongest terms the lack of legitimacy of Israeli settlements," she said after raising her hand to vote against the draft resolution.

A negative vote by one of the permanent members constitutes a veto.

The draft, which was supported by 130 countries including Europeans, had called for the Security Council to declare that "Israeli settlements established in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace."

The draft said that Israel - "the occupying power" - should immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

It was the first US veto since 2006 and the first under President Barack Obama, which had tried to convince Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw the draft and accept a compromise in order to avoid the US veto.

Abbas and Palestinian organizations rejected the US offer, and the council took action on the draft knowing that the US veto would kill it anyway....

Posted via email from Global Politics