Palestine draft set for veto

THE US is vowing to veto an Arab-backed resolution that asks the UN chief to propose measures to ensure “international protection” for Palestinian civilians.

A vote on the measure — which comes after weeks of urgent discussions but no agreement on any action about escalating violence in Gaza — now appears likely today.

The Kuwait-sponsored draft resolution “deplores” and demands a halt to “the use of any excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force” by the Israeli military, while it also “deplores the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israeli civilian areas.”

US ambassador Nikki Haley lambasted the proposal for discussing “excessive” Israeli force while making no mention of Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza.

She described it as “a gross- ly one-sided approach that is morally bankrupt” and said and would undermine ongoing efforts toward peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, also has sharply criticised the proposal.

The Security Council has been deeply divided and paralysed over dealing with the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After a series of emergency meetings about Gaza — the latest last Wednesday — the UN’s most powerful body so far hasn’t been able to agree even on a press statement.

The draft resolution expresses “grave concern” at the escalation of violence and tensions and the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories, especially since the start of a series of mass protests at the Gaza border on March 30.