Posted on 02/18/2011 4:23:05 PM PST by SJackson
(Reuters) - The United States on Friday vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements on Palestinian land after the Palestinians refused a compromise offer from Washington.
The U.S. move was welcomed by American pro-Israel groups, some of which have previously criticized President Barack Obama's administration for what they see as its record of lukewarm support for Israel.
The other 14 Security Council members voted in favor of the draft resolution. But the United States, 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.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told council members that the veto "should not be misunderstood to mean we support settlement activity." The U.S. position is that continued Israeli settlements lack legitimacy, she said.
But Rice said the draft "risks hardening the position of both sides" and reiterated the U.S. view that settlements and other contentious issues should be resolved in direct Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
The resolution described the settlements as "illegal" and urged the Jewish state to "immediately and completely" halt all settlement activities. Diplomats said the views contained in the resolution, which would have been legally binding had it passed, are generally supported by the Obama administration.
However, they said, the United States refuses to allow the Security Council to intervene with binding resolutions on issues it feels belongs to direct peace talks.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
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And all it took was weeks of handwringing with Hillary and Susan Rice, and a generous offer to condemn Israel to Abu Mazen, who spit in his eye. He gets it, he really does.
This is America.....was it ever an option?
She vetoed WITH REGRET
Disgusting, just disgusting
Abba Eben’s famous quote comes to mind.
The administration figured out that this would kill foreign policy cred in 2012.
Yes, the palestinians had a chance for this administration to condemn Jews living in Jerusalem in the US, and they passed on it. Stupid.
...after the Palestinians refused a compromise offer from Washington.IOW, Zero's team isn't entirely incompetent. This was only done in order to shift the Paleos, er, Palis, on the subsequent rounds.
He neds to summon Tiger Woods to the White House. A few dozen lessons at premier golf courses and Obismal can putter around in the Ovoid Orifice!
He neds to summon Tiger Woods to the White House. A few dozen lessons at premier golf courses and Obismal can putter around in the Ovoid Orifice!
He neds to summon Tiger Woods to the White House. A few dozen lessons at premier golf courses and Obismal can putter around in the Ovoid Orifice!
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