America voted alone against the resolution as the sole Security Council member.
The US has vetoed a resolution by the UN Security Council, which would have paved the way for Palestine to become a member of the world body.
Palestine is currently a “permanent observer state” at the UN with participation in many meetings but without voting rights.
The draft resolution debated on Thursday suggested that the UN General Assembly have a vote on updating Palestine’s status within the organization. The document was rejected with 12 votes in favor, one against, and two abstentions.
The US Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, Robert Wood, said “there are questions, as yet unanswered, as to whether [Palestine] meets the criteria to be considered a state.” He argued that Palestine cannot be admitted to the UN while the Gaza Strip remains under the control of Hamas, a militant group.
Washington continues to support the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, Wood stressed.
“This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgment that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties,” he said in a statement.
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