US Vetoes UN Resolution on Israeli Settlements

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have condemned Israeli settlements as "illegal" and called for an immediate halt to all settlement building.

The 14 other Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution in Friday's vote.

The Obama administration's veto is certain to anger Arab countries and Palestinian supporters around the world.

The U.S. opposes new settlements but says taking the issue to the U.N. will only complicate efforts to resume stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on a two-state solution.

The Palestinians say they will not resume peace talks until Israel halts settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which it wants as its capital.