United Nations. .- The United States today blocked a controversial veto the Security Council the UN adopt a resolution against the Jewish settlements, with which it sought to condemn Israel's refusal to stop work on settlements in occupied territory. The U.S. veto, the first since the arrival of Barack Obama to the White House, also served to reaffirm the readiness of Washington to protect the international body to its main ally in the Middle East, even in a field in which they disagree.
In recent days, Washington had tried every means, including two calls from Obama to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to avoid being isolated by vetoing a measure backed by the rest of the international community. In the end, the U.S. delegation, which has veto power by being a permanent member, was the only one of the fifteen countries of the highest organ of international security in voting against the measure sponsored by more than one hundred countries.
The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, noted after the vote that his position can not be construed as an endorsement of the settlements Israel has built in the occupied territories after the 1967 war. "Although we agree with the other members, and indeed the world at large, on the folly and the illegitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity, does not seem reasonable that the Council tries to resolve the crucial issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians, "the diplomat said.
However, in his view, the adoption of the resolution sponsored by the Arab countries would open the door to any party go to the UN when direct negotiations between the parties face difficulties. Rice also regretted that the Palestinians would not accept an alternative measure that the U.S.
were presented in recent days to withdraw the draft resolution, so Washington had to avoid a veto. According to diplomatic sources, this alternative included a Security Council statement expressing a strong rejection of the Jewish settlements and greater involvement of the Middle East Quartet (U.S., Russia, UN and European Union) in this matter.
The Palestinian UN representative, Riad Mansur, regretted the outcome of the vote, but acknowledged the "massive" support received in the Security Council and among United Nations members in general. "We would like to assume that the Council had adopted the resolution, but has proven global support to their content," observed the end of the meeting Mansur, who said today that the veto will not affect relations with Washington.
For its part, the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Meron Reuben, welcomed the U.S. move and felt that debates like today in the Security Council "will not help the parties to return to negotiations." "Instead, the international community should urge the Palestinians, with a clear, firm voice, to return to the negotiating table," he added.
The other members of the Security Council voted in favor said the move reflects the need to safeguard international law and note that the settlements are an impediment to achieving peace between the parties. "We support the resolution because it was supposed to send an important message: the respect for international law," said the Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.
For its part, the Lebanese ambassador to the UN, Nawaf Salam, said he now consider the possibility of going to the UN General Assembly and even the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The draft resolution reaffirmed that "the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in 1967, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive." In addition, he urged the Israeli Government, as the occupying power, to "immediately cease all settlement activity" and fulfill all its international obligations.
The peace process sponsored by the U.S. been stalled since late September, after Abbas to abandon peace talks in response to the Israeli decision not to extend a moratorium on settlement activity. 
In recent days, Washington had tried every means, including two calls from Obama to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to avoid being isolated by vetoing a measure backed by the rest of the international community. In the end, the U.S. delegation, which has veto power by being a permanent member, was the only one of the fifteen countries of the highest organ of international security in voting against the measure sponsored by more than one hundred countries.
The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, noted after the vote that his position can not be construed as an endorsement of the settlements Israel has built in the occupied territories after the 1967 war. "Although we agree with the other members, and indeed the world at large, on the folly and the illegitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity, does not seem reasonable that the Council tries to resolve the crucial issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians, "the diplomat said.
However, in his view, the adoption of the resolution sponsored by the Arab countries would open the door to any party go to the UN when direct negotiations between the parties face difficulties. Rice also regretted that the Palestinians would not accept an alternative measure that the U.S.
were presented in recent days to withdraw the draft resolution, so Washington had to avoid a veto. According to diplomatic sources, this alternative included a Security Council statement expressing a strong rejection of the Jewish settlements and greater involvement of the Middle East Quartet (U.S., Russia, UN and European Union) in this matter.
The Palestinian UN representative, Riad Mansur, regretted the outcome of the vote, but acknowledged the "massive" support received in the Security Council and among United Nations members in general. "We would like to assume that the Council had adopted the resolution, but has proven global support to their content," observed the end of the meeting Mansur, who said today that the veto will not affect relations with Washington.
For its part, the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Meron Reuben, welcomed the U.S. move and felt that debates like today in the Security Council "will not help the parties to return to negotiations." "Instead, the international community should urge the Palestinians, with a clear, firm voice, to return to the negotiating table," he added.
The other members of the Security Council voted in favor said the move reflects the need to safeguard international law and note that the settlements are an impediment to achieving peace between the parties. "We support the resolution because it was supposed to send an important message: the respect for international law," said the Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.
For its part, the Lebanese ambassador to the UN, Nawaf Salam, said he now consider the possibility of going to the UN General Assembly and even the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The draft resolution reaffirmed that "the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in 1967, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive." In addition, he urged the Israeli Government, as the occupying power, to "immediately cease all settlement activity" and fulfill all its international obligations.
The peace process sponsored by the U.S. been stalled since late September, after Abbas to abandon peace talks in response to the Israeli decision not to extend a moratorium on settlement activity.
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