America uses veto power to thwart anti-settlement resolution at UN, amid harsh Palestinian criticism of US; PA slams American 'bias,' Ramallah protestors hold racist anti-US rally, refer to Obama by skin color
The United States vetoed the Palestinian proposal to condemn settlement construction by Israel at the United Nations Security Council Friday.
The other 14 Council members voted in favor of the draft resolution. But the US, as one of the five permanent council members with the power to block any action by the Security Council, voted against it and struck it down.
Earlier, the Palestinians rejected America's request to withdraw or soften the resolution.
The vote followed a tense day that featured Palestinian rejection of US pressure to avoid the resolution coupled with wild PA attacks on the Obama Administration.
'Europe wants Palestine in UN'
US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told council members that the veto "should not be misunderstood to mean we support settlement activity." She added that the US view is that Israeli settlements lack legitimacy.
But she said the draft "risks hardening the position of both sides" and reiterated the US position that settlements and other contentious issues should be resolved in direct peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.
