The United States used its veto late last night to stifle a UN Security Council resolution that would have urged creation of an international observer force to protect civilians in the West Bank and Gaza.
The vote was 9-1 with four abstentions and Ukraine not voting. In favor were Bangladesh, Colombia, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Singapore, Tunisia, Russia and China. Ireland abstained from the vote along with Britain, France and Norway.
Supporters of the Palestinians said they pushed for a vote before an Arab summit ended in Amman, Jordan, today. They said a delay until Wednesday morning requested by the United States on a compromise European text was not acceptable after five days of marathon talks.
At issue was a repeat appeal by Palestinians for the Security Council, at a minimum, to state its willingness to send unarmed UN observers to the West Bank and Gaza, even if Israel refused to allow them into the territories.
The United States, Israel's ally, had been negotiating intensely on the European draft that would not commit the council to any specific action without the agreement of Israel and the Palestinians.
Over 400 people, most Palestinians, have been killed in six months of violence.
