Palestinians want U.N. vote Friday on Israeli settlements

A Security Council condemnation of Israeli settlements would put the U.S. in a difficult diplomatic position

Published February 16, 2011 11:58PM (EST)

The Palestinians are calling for a U.N. Security Council vote Friday on a resolution condemning Israeli settlements.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. observer, announced the move late Wednesday after it was approved in a closed-door meeting of the 22-member Arab Group, which rejected a compromise proposal by the United States.

Diplomats said the United States had proposed a weaker Security Council statement, promised to include language sought by the Palestinians in the next communique of the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers and to support a council visit to the Middle East.

Friday's vote puts the Obama administration in a difficult position because a veto would anger the Palestinians and its many supporters while an abstention would anger the Israelis.


By Associated Press

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Israel Middle East United Nations