United Nations, Dec 21: The United States vetoed an Arab-backed resolution that would have condemned Israel for the recent killings of three UN. workers, calling it one-sided. Twelve other council members including close US ally Britain voted in favor of the resolution, and two abstained on Friday.

The resolution expressed "grave concern" at the killings by Israeli troops and demanded that Israel "refrain from the excessive and disproportionate use of force in the Occupied Palestinian territories." It also demanded that Israel comply fully with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which deals with the protection of civilians in time of war.
But the veto by the United States, one of five permanent council members with veto power means that the resolution was not adopted.
Syria's UN Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, the only Arab member of the council, rejected US attempts to amend the resolution to eliminate the reference to Israel's disproportionate use of force.It also dropped the demand for Israel to comply with the Fourth Geneva Convention. Bureau Report