THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY REJECTED A PALESTINIAN DRAFT RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ISRAEL TO WITHDRAW FROM PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES BY LATE 2017 AND REACH A PEACE DEAL WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
THE PALESTINIAN RESOLUTION CALLED FOR NEGOTIATIONS TO BE BASED ON TERRITORIAL LINES THAT EXISTED BEFORE ISRAEL CAPTURED THE WEST BANK, EAST JERUSALEM AND THE GAZA STRIP IN 1967 MIDDLE EAST WAR.
THERE WERE EIGHT VOTES IN FAVOR, TWO VOTES AGAINST AND FIVE ABSTENTIONS INCLUDING THE UK. AUSTRALIA JOINED THE UNITED STATES IN VOTING AGAINST THE MEASURES. NINE VOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR A MOTION TO BE PASSED IN THE 15 MEMBER U. N. SECURITY COUNCIL.
AMERICA HOPES AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED BETWEEN ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS OVER THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, RATHER THAN BY UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS.