Despite the fact that the Obama administration generally agrees with the resolution which the Palestinians are bringing to a vote in the United Nations Security Council this week, Washington has hinted that it will veto such a resolution.
The draft resolution contains condemnation of Israel’s continuing building of towns in the disputed territories known as the West Bank. It included the eastern part of unified Jerusalem in its wording, and declares that Jewish building is illegal. The resolution also calls on a freeze of Jewish construction so that peace talks between the sides can resume.
Washington is against using resolutions such as this one as a way to encourage peace negotiations. It sees bringing motions before the Security Council as counterproductive and pushing the sides apart.