US Vetoes Security Council Resolution On Israeli Settlements

The Obama administration Friday made its first use of its veto at the UN Security council, blocking a resolution condemning Israeli settlements.

The United States was the lone UN Security Council member to veto the resolution that identified Israeli settlements as illegal and called for an end to further construction in the Occupied Territories. 

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said her country believed a Security Council resolution would further complicate negotiations between parties, but insisted the US veto was in no way a sign of support for Israeli settlements.

“Continued settlement activity violates Israel’s international commitments, devastates trust between the parties and threatens the prospects of peace. “ Rice told the Security Council,  “Every potential action must be measured against one overriding standard; will it move the parties closer to negotiation and an agreement. Unfortunately this draft resolution risks hardening the position of both sides. It could encourage the parties to stay out of negotiation, and if and when they did resume, to return to the Security Council whenever they reach an impasse.”

Media reports through out the week indicated Rice had been working to convince Palestinian and Arab leaders not to introduce the resolution, offering instead to issue a Security Council Presidential statement and further promises of diplomatic pressure on Israel as alternatives.

“In recent days, we offered a constructive alternative course forward, that we believe would have allowed the council to act unanimously to support the pursuit of peace. We regret that this effort was not successful”

Negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian officials broke down in again in September, after the Israeli government refused to extend a freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank