Criticism of Israel’s lethal force against Palestinian protesters at the Gaza border shifted on Wednesday to the United Nations General Assembly, which overwhelmingly passed a resolution that basically blamed the Israelis for the casualties in 10 weeks of clashes. Loud applause greeted the outcome of the vote posted on a digital board in the cavernous General Assembly chamber, broadcast on the United Nations website. Israel and the United States, which voted against the resolution, called it blatantly one-sided and unhelpful. The resolution, which deplored “excessive use of force” by Israel, also requested recommendations to protect Palestinians. It did not explicitly criticize Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, which Israel and the United States have accused of instigating the clashes. While the resolution, proposed by Arab and Islamic members, carries no legal weight, the outcome was seen by the Palestinian delegation and its supporters as a moral victory. The vote also was a reminder of the isolation facing Israel and its American ally at the United Nations when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<doc-sep>The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s use of force in seeking to squelch protests at the border with Gaza. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley rejected the Kuwaiti-authored resolution - which sought “international protection” for Palestinian civilians - as “grossly one-sided” and “morally bankrupt”, saying it failed to mention Hamas’s role in instigating violence. Thousands of Palestinians were wounded and scores died as Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinians rushing the fences, some of them wielding flaming tyres or floating explosives on kites. America has sided firmly with Israel in saying that Hamas, the terrorist group that governs the Gaza strip, provoked the bloodshed by urging civilians to try and breach the border. “The terrorist group Hamas bares primary responsibility for the awful living conditions in Gaza”, Ms Haley said ahead of the vote. Matching America’s veto, the security council subsequently show down a US-authored resolution that faulted Hamas and called on militant groups to cease “all violent activity and provocative actions”. Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Show all 37 1 /37 Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Palestinian mourners carry the dead body of Mukhtar Ebu Hamas, 25, killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on 14 May Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures A Palestinian woman flashes a victory sign during a protest near the border fence AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Israeli soldiers guard on top of a watch tower along the Israel-Gaza border AP Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Palestinian demonstrators react to fired tear gas Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Palestinian demonstrators run for cover Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures US President's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner arrive for the controversial inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem. The United States moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem after months of global outcry, Palestinian anger and exuberant praise from Israelis over President Donald Trump's decision tossing aside decades of precedent. AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Palestinians carry a demonstrator injured during clashes AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman speaks during the dedication ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures A Palestinian man walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres AFP/Getty Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he arrives ahead of the dedication ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Reuters Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Palestinian protesters lying on the floor during clashes Rex Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Palestinian protesters burn tires AP Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner, US President's daughter Ivanka Trump, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and US ambassador to Israel David Friedman attend the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.<doc-sep>Nikki Haley Nikki HaleyCoalition of human rights groups calling for boycott of Beijing Olympics Trump critics push new direction for GOP Pollster Frank Luntz: 'I would bet on' Trump being 2024 GOP nominee MORE, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.), vetoed an Arab-backed Security Council resolution on Friday that sought to offer "international protection" for Palestinian civilians. The resolution, introduced by Kuwait, was intended to respond to the escalation of violence in Gaza last month during protests at the border with Israel. Dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces, who argue that they were trying to defend the border. Haley blasted the Kuwaiti-drafted resolution on Friday, calling it "grossly one-sided" and arguing that it failed to place blame on Hamas for inciting the deadly protests. ADVERTISEMENT "It is resolutions like this one that undermine the U.N.’s credibility in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," she said shortly before the vote. "Because this resolution is wildly inaccurate in its characterization of recent events in Gaza, and because it would harm any efforts towards peace, the United States will oppose it and will veto it if necessary." In a subsequent statement, Haley said the resolution, which secured 10 votes on the 15-member Security Council, proved what she called the U.N.'s anti-Israel bias.<doc-sep>A bitter divide over who is to blame for scores of Palestinian deaths from Israeli fire at protests near Gaza’s border shifted Friday to the United Nations, where the United States vetoed a measure backed by Arab countries to protect Palestinians and condemn Israel. Nikki R. Haley, the American ambassador to the United Nations, described the measure, a United Nations Security Council resolution drafted by Kuwait, as one-sided. She accused the measure’s authors of inexplicably absolving Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza and organized the protests. The United States, a permanent Security Council member with veto power, was the sole no vote on the measure, which was enough to defeat it. Ten members voted in favor and four abstained. A separate American resolution proposed by Ms. Haley, which would have condemned Hamas for the Gaza violence, failed to gain any support from fellow Council members.<doc-sep>
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States vetoed on Friday a Kuwaiti-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Israel’s use of force against Palestinian civilians, underlining Washington’s differences with friends and foes alike over the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Slideshow ( 6 images ) Later, a second, U.S.-drafted resolution that blamed Hamas for the violence and upheld Israel’s right to defend itself failed to attract any other country’s support when it was put to vote in the 15-member council. Blasting the council majority, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the two votes showed it was willing to blame Israel and unwilling to blame Hamas, the Islamist group that dominates Gaza. “It is now completely clear that the UN is hopelessly biased against Israel,” she said in a statement. France, Russia, China, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Peru, Sweden, and Equatorial Guinea joined Kuwait in voting in favor of the first draft. Britain, the Netherlands, Poland and Ethiopia abstained. Only the United States voted against. To be adopted, a Security Council resolution needs to receive at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by any of the permanent members - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. Only the United States voted in favor of the second draft resolution, while there were three negative votes and 11 abstentions. At least 116 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza border protests since March 30. The largest number of killings occurred on May 14, the day the United States moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Amid international condemnation of its use of lethal force, Israel said many of the dead were militants and that the Israeli army was repelling attacks on the border fence between Israel and Gaza. Washington has maintained Israel’s right to defend itself and refrained from joining calls for Israeli restraint. Palestinians and their supporters said most of the protesters were unarmed civilians and Israel was using excessive force against them. Over the years, the United States has vetoed a number of Security Council resolutions critical of Israel. In December, it vetoed an Egyptian-drafted resolution calling on President Donald Trump’s administration to reverse its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.