US vetoes anti-Israel resolution

2006-07-14 08:29

United Nations - The United States on Thursday blocked an Arab-backed resolution that would have demanded Israel halt its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, the first UN security council veto in nearly two years.

The draft, sponsored by Qatar on behalf of other Arab nations, accused Israel of a "disproportionate use of force" that endangered Palestinian civilians, and demanded Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza.

The United States was alone in voting against the resolution. Ten of the 15 security council nations voted in favour, while Britain, Denmark, Peru and Slovakia abstained.

The US has periodically used its veto to block resolutions critical of Israel. The last council veto, in October 2004, was cast when the United States blocked a resolution condemning another Israeli operation in Gaza.

Concerns over bias

The draft was reworked repeatedly to address concerns that it was too biased against Israel. Language was added calling for the release of an abducted soldier and urging the Palestinians to stop firing rockets at Israel.

Nonetheless, US Ambassador John Bolton said it was still unacceptable because it had been overtaken by events in the region - including the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants on Wednesday - and was "unbalanced".

"It placed demands on one side in the Middle East conflict but not the other," Bolton said.

"This draft resolution would have exacerbated tensions in the region."

Restarting the peace process

Israel launched the operation two weeks ago in response to the June 25 capture of an Israeli soldier, 19-year-old corporal Gilad Shalit.

The resolution called on Israel and the Palestinians to "take immediate steps to create the necessary condition for the resumption of negotiation and restarting the peace process."

It urged all parties to help alleviate the "dire humanitarian situation" faced by Palestinians.

The United States sought a text that said the Israeli actions were in direct response to rocket attacks against Israel and Shalit's capture.

Bolton said the United States remains "gravely concerned" at the escalation of the conflict and believes the best way to calm the situation is for Hamas to release Shalit.

The draft also demanded Israel release the Palestinian officials it has arrested.

The Palestinian observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said he was disappointed with the council's "continued inability to act while innocent Palestinian civilians continue to be brutally killed by the Israeli occupying forces".

Veto power

The five permanent members of the council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - all have veto power in the council. Thursday's veto was the 81st by the US.

Eight of the last nine vetoes in the council have been cast by the United States. Of those, seven concerned the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

- AP