2nd LD: U.S. vetoes UN Security Council draft resolution on Jerusalem status

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Monday vetoed a Security Council draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem.

All other 14 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the Egyptian-drafted text. But as the United States, which is a permanent member of the Security Council, has veto power, the draft resolution failed to be adopted.

Before the vote, Egyptian ambassador to the United Nations Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta explained that the draft resolution seeks to ensure that any attempts to alter the characteristics or demographic composition of the Old City of Jerusalem have no effect and are null and void, and must be rescinded.

The draft resolution also calls on all parties not to establish diplomatic missions in Jerusalem, he said.

In explaining the veto, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said it was the first U.S. veto in the Security Council in more than six years.

"We do it with no joy, but we do it with no reluctance," she told the council.

She argued that her country has a sovereign right to determine where or whether to establish its embassy in a country.

Representatives of other countries in the council hold that Israel has no sovereignty over the whole of Jerusalem and that Jerusalem is a final-status issue that should be solved by the Israelis and Palestinians through negotiations. Enditem