Security Council rejects Gaza resolution

The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting on an Arab request for a legally binding and enforceable UN resolution that would condemn Israel and halt its military attacks on Gaza.

But the draft resolution circulated by Libya on behalf of the 22-member Arab League was immediately rejected by the United States as “unbalanced” and “one-sided” because it makes no mention of halting the Hamas rocketing of southern Israel which led to the Israeli offensive.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the United States is working very hard to achieve an immediate cease-fire implemented by both sides – but he said Washington has not seen “any evidence” yet that Hamas is willing to end its rocket attacks.