US VETOS UN GAZA RESOLUTION

US vetos UN resolution to demand end to Gaza operation
The United States on Tuesday vetoed an Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate end to a large-scale Israeli military offensive in the northern Gaza Strip. The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 in favor, one against, and three abstentions - Britain, Germany and Romania. US Ambassador John Danforth cast the US veto after British and German efforts to find compromise language failed.

"Once again, the resolution is lopsided and unbalanced," Danforth told the council just before voting "no." Danforth explained his veto saying that the draft neglected to demand a halt to Hamas and other terrorist activity against Israel, and placed the blame for recent violence on Israel alone. "It is dangerously disingenuous because of its many material omissions. Because of this lack of balance, because of these omissions the resolution lacks credibility and deserves a "no" vote," he said.