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U.S. Vetoes Security Council Resolution on Israeli Settlements

On February 18, 2011, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning all Israeli settlements established since 1967 as illegal and calling for an immediate halt to all settlement building. The 14 other Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution.

In explaining her veto, US Ambassador Susan E. Rice said the vote should not be misunderstood as support for settlement activity.

“On the contrary, we reject in the strongest terms the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity,” she declared. “Continued settlement activity violates Israel’s international commitments, devastates trust between the parties, and threatens the prospects for peace…

“Every potential action must be measured against one overriding standard: will it move the parties closer to negotiations and an agreement? Unfortunately, this draft resolution risks hardening the positions of both sides. It could encourage the parties to stay out of negotiations and, if and when they did resume, to return to the Security Council whenever they reach an impasse.”

New York TimesUN