US Vetoes UN Resolution on Israeli Offensive in Gaza
By VOA News
13 July 2006
The United States has vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned the Israeli offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Council members voted 10-1 Thursday, with the United States voting no and four countries abstaining.
John Bolton
In explaining his negative vote, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, described the text of the resolution as "unbalanced, untimely and outmoded." He said the draft resolution placed demands on one side of the Middle East conflict but not the other.
As a permanent Security Council member, the U.S. can veto any resolution, and has in the past done so to protect its ally, Israel.
Qatar had sponsored the draft resolution, which accused Israel of a "disproportionate use of force." The measure demanded Israel withdraw from Gaza, but also urged Palestinian militants to release a captured Israeli soldier.
The Israeli military moved into Gaza late last month in an attempt to rescue the soldier and stop militant rocket attacks. Nearly 80 Palestinians have been killed, including dozens of civilians in the past two weeks.
In Gaza City, an Israeli air strike early Thursday destroyed the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. No one was reported killed. The raid apparently was aimed at Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, a leader of the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
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