US rejects UN resolution calling for Israel withdrawal

THE United States has vetoed an Arab-backed resolution demanding Israel immediately end military operations in the northern Gaza Strip and withdraw its troops, saying the measure was “lopsided and unbalanced” and “absolves terrorists in the Middle East”.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 in favour, one against, and three abstentions - by Britain, Germany and Romania.

It was followed by a chorus of denunciations of the US vote, with critics saying it paralyses action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel launched the operation six days ago after a Palestinian rocket killed two children in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. The Israeli incursion into Gaza has left at least 75 Palestinians dead.

US Ambassador John Danforth said that while condemning Israeli acts of violence, the resolution did not mention that the Palestinians have fired more than 200 rockets against Israeli towns this year alone.

Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinian representative, said “the council failed to take a stand against the bloodshed ... by the Israeli forces” because of Washington’s veto.

Mr Al-Kidwa said he heard much talk about the two Israeli children killed in the rocket attack, but what, he asked, about the 13-year-old Palestinian girl whom he said was riddled with 30 bullets as she walked to school.