U.S. to veto Kuwait-drafted Security Council resolution on protection of Palestinians

UNITED NATIONS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The United States will veto a Security Council draft resolution prepared by Kuwait on the protection of Palestinians, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Thursday.

"The United States will unquestionably veto Kuwait's draft resolution," Haley said in a statement. She described it a "one-sided approach" that would "only serve to undermine ongoing efforts toward peace between the Israelis and Palestinians."

There is not one single mention of Hamas in the resolution, when Hamas is chiefly responsible for the recent violence in Gaza, it said.

A vote on the Kuwaiti text is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Friday. But as the United States, a permanent member of the Security Council, has veto power, the Kuwaiti draft is doomed.

Kuwait, a non-permanent member of the Security Council, circulated the draft among council members two weeks ago. The draft initially called for an international protection mission for Palestinians. But the language was later watered down.

The draft resolution was circulated after weeks of protests by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip culminated on May 14, the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding and the day of relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. At least 60 people were killed on that day. Enditem