Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US vetoes UN resolution on Israeli settlements
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Top Stories
Most Popular
Photos
Full Coverage
Sitemap
US vetoes UN resolution on Israeli settlements
AFP - Sunday, February 20
Send
IM Story
Print
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - – The United States has vetoed an Arab-sponsored UN resolution branding Israeli settlements illegal, prompting angry Palestinians to vow to re-evaluate the entire Middle East peace process.
The Obama administration cast its first veto in the United Nations Security Council Friday, after intense diplomacy failed to convince Palestinians to accept a non-binding compromise statement condemning Jewish settlement activity.
The row dealt a further blow to Washington's already struggling bid to forge a Palestinian state this year and risked further estranging US ties with Arab leaders already tetchy at its response to unrest sweeping the Middle East.
US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said Washington was "regrettably" blocking the draft resolution and warned Israeli should not interpret the move as backing for settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.
But she said the United States -- one of five permanent Security Council members with veto power -- did not believe the United Nations was the best place to seek to resolve the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"This draft resolution risks hardening the positions of both sides," Rice said. "It could encourage the parties to stay out of negotiations."
Later, in a conference call with reporters, Rice added "We reject in the stongest terms the legitimacy of the continued Israeli settlement activity."
But Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said the US veto was "unfortunate and affects the credibility of the American administration."
As a result, the Palestinians will "re-evaluate the entire process of negotiations" towards peace in the Middle East, he said.
The resolution, sponsored by 130 countries, reaffirmed "that the Israeli settlements established in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace."
It also reiterated "its demand that Israel, the occupying power, immediately and completely ceases all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory."
Washington, although saying it views settlement activity as illegitimate, has stopped short of declaring it "illegal" saying that doing so could add further complications to future final status peace talks.
The Palestinians balked at the US compromise despite intense diplomacy by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The row came at some political as well as diplomatic cost to the administration as it took incoming fire from bi-partisan lawmakers who support Israel for even offering a compromise solution.
Fourteen of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution but the US veto effectively killed the move.
Israel reacted to the veto by calling for a resumption of direct talks with the Palestinians.
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that "Israel deeply appreciates the decision by President Obama to veto the Security Council resolution."
"Israel remains committed to pursuing comprehensive peace with all our neighbors, including the Palestinians," it said.
The last round of peace talks broke down late last year after the expiry of an Israeli settlement building moratorium.
Palestinian leaders say peace talks are impossible with construction taking place which they say undermines the territorial integrity of their future state.
The United States has traditionally used its veto power in the Security Council, a body Israel deems as deeply biased, to shield the Jewish state from censure.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Friday turned down a request by Obama to withdraw the motion for condemnation and settle instead for a council statement calling for an Israeli settlement freeze.
One senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the offer, made in an hour-long phone call late Thursday from Obama, was accompanied by veiled threats of "repercussions" if it were refused.
However, Britain has called on Israel and the Palestinians to get back round the negotiating table after the US veto.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Palestinians to make fresh UN anti-settlement bid
Britain's Fergie 'not invited to royal wedding'
Barclays criticised over UK corporation tax bill
US lawmakers vote to cut $61 bn in govt spending
US vetoes UN resolution on Israeli settlements
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Britain's Fergie 'not invited to royal wedding'
Fewer big fish in the sea, say scientists
Obama vows US will 'out-hustle' world
Bahrain protesters shot as heir promises talks
US lawmakers vote to cut $61 bn in govt spending
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 19 February 2011 Egypt says Iran ships can use Suez Canal -source
Berlusconi eyes justice curbs as sex trial looms
Uganda vote set to extend Museveni's 25-year rule
Germany's 'cut-and-paste' minister drops PhD title
Egyptian bank shutdown and strikes hit industry
Spain okays plan to shore up troubled savings banks
Thousands of Egypt protesters keep up the pressure
Egyptian revolution brings show of religious unity
|
Fewer big fish in the sea, say scientists
Copenhagen hippie haven belongs to Denmark: court
Iran cleric plays down calls to hang opposition heads
Mideast regimes counter protests with deadly force
TomTom faces squeeze from rivals' free services
Berlusconi's dancer describes 'bunga bunga parties'
Electrode therapy aids compulsive disorder: scientists
Egypt's military studying Iran warship request
Guantanamo jury to sentence al Qaeda conspirator
|
Wozniacki topples Clijsters to reclaim No. 1 spot
Egyptians speak out at protesters' "Victory March"
Three hurt in Tunis Islamist protest over brothel
|
S. Korea activists say pizza pledges can be deadly
'Sam Cam' opens London Fashion Week amid cuts warning
Decade to shift Chinese economy away from exports: bank
Intel plans $5 bln Arizona chip plant by 2013
|
Lara Croft actor Glen to join Downton Abbey
Vietnam rate hike to help cut inflation: economist
U.S. and EU regulators eye Apple subscription plan
|
Film explores centuries-old Albanian blood feuds
Obama touts innovation agenda for spurring jobs
|
Pakistan to rule on Antofagasta venture soon-report
Google group keeps sights on Microsoft in new era
|
Essar Energy agrees to buy refinery from Shell
Indonesian hardliners rally to disband Muslim sect
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end down; rupee firms
China to raise banks' reserve requirement ratio
Malaysia's economy slows to 4.8% in Q4
China's auto sales hit new high in January
US-TECH Summary
Google group keeps sights on Microsoft in new era
Obama to name Intel CEO to White House jobs panel
Lady Gaga breaks iTunes records, says on drunk diet
|
U.S. and EU regulators eye Apple subscription plan
Azerbaijan urges citizens to fight corruption online
Republicans seek to quash 'net neutrality' rules
US regulators examine Apple media platform: WSJ
Destructive cyber attack inevitable: NSA chief
Egypt's army turns to the Web after protests
Obama meets US tech titans, including Apple's Jobs
US in direct talks with Taliban: New Yorker
Sarkozy warns putting national interests first will kill G20
Obama condemns violence in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen
Al Jazeera says signal jammed, Libya blocks website
Twitter cuts off UberMedia apps for tweets
Libya's Gaddafi faces fight of life, Bahrain offer snubbed
|
Guantanamo prisoner will serve 34 more months
US spending battle escalates amid shutdown fears
Twitter cuts off UberMedia apps for tweets
Egyptians celebrate, pressure army to keep pledges
|
Bahrain protesters shot as heir promises talks
Intel to invest $5 billion in new Arizona plant
U.S. vetoes U.N. draft condemning Israeli settlements
Dozens more killed in east Libya: Human Rights Watch
|
Facebook access cut in Libya: reports
Stateless in Kuwait protest for citizenship rights
Obama vows US will 'out-hustle' world
Kadhafi loyalists threaten to snuff out protests
Thousands of Egypt protesters keep up the pressure
Bahrain king offers dialogue to resolve crisis
|
Intel plans $5 billion Arizona chip plant by 2013
Obama touts innovation agenda for spurring U.S. jobs
Oman protesters call for political reform, pay rise
|
Egyptians celebrate, pressure army to keep pledges
Guantanamo prisoner to help prosecute others
|
Champions shaping up for browser battles
Egyptian revolution brings show of religious unity
India, Bangladesh launch 10th Cricket World Cup
Egypt military says will not allow strikes to go on
Activist sees end to Japan's Antarctic whale hunt
30 wounded in Kuwait protests on Friday
Australians urged to reconsider trips to Bahrain
Myanmar says Suu Kyi party must apologize for sanctions
|
Dance transforms inmates in Taiwan 'jail of art'
Three hurt in Tunis Islamist protest over brothel
|
Dead baby found at Oprah school
IRB brokers deal in Fiji World Cup crisis
Susanne Bier brings "A Better World" to Hollywood
China adopts heavy metal reduction plan
Alarmed by Bahrain violence, U.S. appeals to govt
Roddick beats Hewitt to reach Memphis tennis semis
US vetoes UN resolution on Israeli settlements
S.Korea proposes 'special Olympic law'
Family of late Cuba hunger striker receive US visas
Manila apologises over deportees row: Taiwan
US vetoes UN resolution on Israel settlements
Bangladesh cricket W.Cup frenzy ahead of India opener
U.S. launches diplomatic "surge" to end Afghan war
Iran, Hungary lead pack for Berlin fest's Golden Bear
Obama 'warned of repercussions' if Abbas goes to UN
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"American Idol" powers Fox to another Thursday win
Brazil keeps focus on China, Iran under new leader
Dead baby found at Oprah school
Intel plans $5 bln Arizona chip plant by 2013
|
Palestinian leader rejects US bid to halt UN vote
Holy smokes Batman! Oscar voters go mainstream
Iranian drama is film to beat at Berlin festival
Susanne Bier brings "A Better World" to Hollywood
Details of dramatic changes for Oscars telecast
Al Jazeera says signal jammed, Libya blocks website
|
'Sam Cam' opens London Fashion Week amid cuts warning
Lady Gaga breaks iTunes records, says on "drunk diet"
Holy smokes Batman! Oscar voters go mainstream
|
American Idol powers Fox to another Thursday win
|
Dead baby found at Oprah school
|
Iranian drama is film to beat at Berlin festival
|
Details of dramatic changes for Oscars telecast
|
Susanne Bier brings A Better World to Hollywood
|
Libya toll rises as Bahrain protesters seize square
Britain's Fergie 'not invited to royal wedding'
Egypt's "winds of freedom" give birth to new party
Barclays criticised over UK corporation tax bill
Suez Canal says no go-ahead yet for Iran warships
Three Russian skiers killed by Caucasus militants
US vetoes UN resolution on Israeli settlements
Lady Gaga earns third #1 single on Billboard Hot 100 with Born This Way
Arab League sees grave situation and wants summit
|
Egypt's largest factory strikes despite warning
U.N. nuclear body may highlight Iran military concerns
|
Eighteen dead in Taliban attack on Afghan bank
At least nine killed in Afghan bank attack
|
30 wounded in Kuwait protests on Friday
Pirates grab four American sailors off Oman
|
Muscovites gunned down in Russia's North Caucasus
|
Afghanistan: Attackers raid bank, kill at least 3
German minister rejects quitting in plagiarism row
|
Thousands of Thai 'Red Shirts' rally in Bangkok
Pamela Anderson asks India to retire old monkeys
G20 seeks elusive deal on economic indicators
Japan court orders $2.4 bln individual tax refund
Indian batsman Sehwag hits first World Cup century
S.Korea bank runs prompt more suspensions
Tendulkar first man out at World Cup
South Korea suspends four more savings banks
Rebels free Philippine cop, ex-soldier amid talks
Philippine military probes Facebook abuse video
A life worth 3 rupees
Japan advises Thailand to boost labour force
Cambodia makes border mountain a strategic point
Thailand's red shirts to reveal 'solid evidence' of PM's UK citizenship
Kiefer Sutherland in talks to return to TV with Tim King project
David Arquette fills in for Michael Vick's "Oprah" interview
Texas expected to pass bill requiring ultrasounds before abortion
Facebook changes relationship status options to include civil unions, domestic partnership
'Botox Bandit' enters plea of no contest in Florida court
Supreme Court, Congress take on sexual assault in military
U.S. reiterates importance of Asia Pacific, urges Japan to more active role
Firefighter refused to respond to Tucson shooting
Senate confirms top level intelligence chief
Authorities seize $9 million in opium at JFK
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights