The United States put a veto on a UN Security Council resolution that was drafted by Kuwait condemning the use of force by Israel against civilians of Palestine, a move that according to Reuters, underlines the difference Washington has with friends and foes alike over the Palestine-Israeli issue.
A second resolution, drafted by the United States blaming Hamas for the violence, upholding Israel and its right to defend itself, gained no support from other countries when put to vote in the council made of 15 members.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed the Council majority stating that these two votes showed that the council was amenable to slander Israel but not prepared to blame Hamas, the Islamist group dominating in Gaza.
“It is now completely clear that the UN is hopelessly biased against Israel,” she said in a statement.
France, Russia, China, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Peru, Sweden, and Equatorial Guinea joined Kuwait in voting in favor of the first draft. Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, and Ethiopia abstained. Only the United States voted against.
A UN Security Council resolution must receive a minimum of nine votes in favor, and no vetoes by any of its permanent members, such as the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, and China – in order to be adopted.
Only the United States voted in favor of the second draft resolution, while there were three negative votes and 11 abstentions.
Over the years, the United States has vetoed a number of Security Council resolutions critical of Israel. In December, it vetoed an Egyptian-drafted resolution calling on President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
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