USA vetoes UN resolution to condemn Israel for death of UN employees

The USA vetoed a draft UN resolution to condemn Israel for death of several UN employees. It meant three employees of UN humanitarian missions, one of them being a British citizen, and two - Palestinians who died at the end of November-beginning of December in the Palestinian territories killed by "allegedly accidental bullets" during exchange of fire.

John Negroponte, the American Ambassador to the UN, characterized the resolution as being "of a one-sided anti-Israeli character." The draft resolution was proposed by the Syrian delegation. It pointed out, in particular, to use by the Israeli army of "excessive force" against Palestinians and it also contained an appeal to have Israeli army units withdrawn from the occupied Palestinian territories.