US vetoes UN resolution on protecting Palestinians

The United States vetoed on Friday an Arab-backed UN draft resolution calling for protection measures for the Palestinians that won backing from 10 countries at the Security Council.

China, France and Russia were among the countries that voted in favor of the draft put forward by Kuwait on behalf of Arab countries. Four countries abstained.

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A draft resolution requires nine votes to be adopted in the 15-member council and no veto from the five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Haley criticizes Kuwaiti draft resolution

Earlier, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley had said that the United States will “unquestionably veto”UN Security Council’s draft resolution calling for international protection of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank after scores were killed near the border with Israel.

Haley criticized the Kuwaiti draft resolution as it focus on the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, without referring to the activities of the Palestinian armed factions.

The US ambassador considered that the draft resolution undermines ongoing efforts towards peace.

In a move against the draft resolution circulated by Kuwait, Washington put forward a new UN draft resolution condemning the Palestinian factions in Gaza.

The US draft resolution calls on the Palestinian factions to put a halt for what it described as provocative actions and terrorist activities near the border fence with Israel.

For his part Kuwait ambassador to the United Nations pointed out that he received late amendments to the draft resolutions put forward by the United States mission to the UN, and consequently postponed the vote to Friday.