The United States vetoed on Tuesday a proposal to send a United Nations' observer force to the Palestinian territories for protection, said reports.
China and Russia joined the non-aligned countries with seats on the council in voting in favor of the draft, said Bloomberg.com, adding that the four western European members abstained.
Ukraine, which holds the rotating presidency of the council this month, did not take part in the vote, reported AFP.
The proposal was contained in a draft resolution sponsored by the seven non-aligned countries with seats on the council, which called for a vote after five days of inconclusive negotiations on an alternative compromise, said AFP.
Acting US ambassador to the UN, James Cunningham, said it would have been "irresponsible" to allow the resolution to succeed, according to Bloomberg.
"The United States opposed this resolution because it is unbalanced and unworkable and hence unwise," he said.
"In this resolution, some pretended that the council could impose a solution, including a protection mechanism for civilians, in the absence of an agreement between the parties.
"Instead, the Security Council, acting on behalf of the international community, should have called on the parties to end all violence, to protect civilians and resume negotiations so all civilians on both sides would be safe," he said – Albawaba.com
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