Israel 'deeply appreciates' US veto on UN resolution

Sat, 19 Feb 2011

Jerusalem - Israel on Saturday said it was deeply grateful to the United States after it vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution put forward by the Palestinian leadership condemning Israeli settlement activity.

"Israel deeply appreciates the decision by (US) President (Barack) Obama to veto the Security Council Resolution" on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Israel was "prepared to pursue negotiations vigorously" and was "eager to get on" with Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the premier's office said.

The "decision by the US makes it clear that the only path to such a peace will come through direct negotiations and not through the decisions of international bodies," it continued.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians began in September but collapsed just three weeks later when a partial Israeli freeze on construction in settlements in occupied Palestinian territories expired.

The Palestinians have said they will not return to the negotiating table until Israel renews the freeze.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/368124,us-veto-un-resolution.html.