US vetoes Palestinian UN membership bid

The United States exercised its veto power late Thursday against a resolution to grant full membership in the United Nations to the Palestinian National Authority. The vote took place in the UN Security Council, with 12 members voting in favor, while the UK and Switzerland abstained. The US argues that a Palestinian state should emerge from direct negotiations with Israel rather than through the Security Council. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, emphasized that the vote was not against a Palestinian state but recognized that it must come through direct negotiations. The Palestinian National Authority, which gained non-member observer status in 2012, expressed condemnation through President Mahmoud Abbas, labeling the US veto as ‘unfair, unethical, and unjustified.’ Conversely, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the US decision, stating ‘The shameful proposal was rejected. Terrorism will not be rewarded.’ The vote occurs amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.