US Vetoes UN Resolution Condemning Israeli Settlements

14 Other Members All Supported Resolution

The Obama Administration has exercised its first UN Security Council veto yet and, as expected, it was to prevent the international body from criticizing Israel’s illegal expansion of settlements in occupied territory.

The veto came after every single other member of the UNSC indicated that they supported the draft resolution, which was non-binding and only reiterated what has long been the position of the international community, that depopulating occupied territory and moving your own citizens there in government sponsored settlements is a violation of international law.

Speaking following the veto, US Ambassador Susan Rice insisted the veto should not be seen as an endorsement of the settlements, which the US “reject in the strongest terms.” Strongest, at least, until it comes to an actual vote.

Rice’s comments, then, appear to be a blatant admission of US hypocrisy on the issue, as the statement was largely in keeping with the claimed US policy on the settlements, and the claims that the veto was meant to defend the “peace talks” carries absolutely no weight nearly six months after those talks have halted completely.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.