At the United Nations, the United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s recent attack on the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun that killed at least 19 Palestinian civilians and left dozens wounded. One family lost 16 members when Israeli tanks opened fire on their house. Seven children died; the youngest was just a year old. The U.N. resolution called on Israel to abide by its obligations and responsibilities under the Geneva Convention. It also called on the Palestinian Authority to stop rocket attacks on Israel. The U.S. delegation criticized the resolution for being one-sided.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton: “We are disturbed at the language of the resolution that is in many places biased against Israel and politically motivated. Such language does not further the cause of peace, and its unacceptability to the United States in previous resolutions is well known.”

The U.S veto was widely criticized in part because the United States has repeatedly used its veto to shield Israel from criticism at the United Nations.

Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinian observer to the U.N.: “As I said, you know, that fact the the Security Council did not adopt this balanced resolution is sending wrong messages. The first one, the wrong message to the extremists on the Israeli side that they are above the law and they can continue this aggression. This aggression has been unfolding for the past five months.”