The U.S. veto Friday of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel “shows once again that the U.S. and Israel are allies,” a spokesman for Israel’s U.N. mission said Sunday.
The spokesman, Barukh Binah, said he was not surprised that the other 14 members of the Security Council all voted in favor of the resolution or by the statement’s strong language.
“The United Nations is not a healthy environment for Israel,” Binah said.
The Security Council resolution harshly condemned Israel for actions “which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory.”
The 14-1 vote took place Friday at a Security Council session requested by Sudan on behalf of the Arab League.
Thomas Pickering, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States vetoed the resolution because it was “unbalanced.”
He said the resolution made no mention of “serious acts of violence” committed by the Palestinians.
The United States vetoed another Security Council resolution condemning Israel earlier this year.
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