U.S. Vetoes U.N. Resolution Critical of Israel Crackdown

UNITED NATIONS —  The United States on Friday vetoed a Security Council resolution critical of Israel’s crackdown on the Palestinian uprising and said acts of violence by Palestinians cannot be ignored.

The United States was the only one of the 15 Security Council members to vote against the resolution, but as a permanent member of the council, it has veto power.

The U.S. Mission, trying to avoid a veto as the Bush Administration’s first policy statement on the Middle East, offered an alternative resolution that contained implied criticism of the Palestinian protesters as well as strong criticism of Israel.

The alternative draft urged Arabs to accept their share of responsibility for the cycle of violence and to be accommodating in seeking a peaceful resolution of the problem. But the nonaligned nations rejected the alternative draft and insisted on proceeding to a vote on their resolution.

“We have made clear to the government of Israel our opposition to certain Israeli practices, for example, expulsion of Palestinian residents, collective punishment, use of live fire in non-life-threatening situations,” said Herbert S. Okun, the deputy U.S. ambassador.

But he added, “Acts of violence perpetrated by Palestinians against Israeli soldiers and civilians are commonplace. Palestinian acts of violence, no more than those of Israelis, cannot be condoned.”