The UN Security Council Wednesday held another emergency meeting on the worsening hostilities between Israel and Palestinians, again without agreeing on a joint statement due to United States opposition stand called as Israel’s key ally, according to diplomats.
The United States witnessed the Security Council meeting as a sufficient show of concern, one diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“The US doesn’t see that a statement will help de-escalate,” another diplomat said.
According to sources, 14 out of the 15 members of the Council were in favor of adopting a joint declaration aimed at reducing tension.
However, the US mission to the UN was not immediately available for a comment.
UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland warned the meeting that the “situation has deteriorated since Monday and there is a risk of a spiral of violence,” according to a diplomatic source.
During the first emergency meeting on Monday, the US also refused to back a text proposed by Tunisia, Norway and China calling on all parties to refrain from provocation.
Renewed rocket fire and rioting in mixed Jewish-Arab towns has fuelled growing fears that deadly violence between Israel and Palestinians could descend into full-scale war.
The most intense hostilities in seven years have killed at least 53 people in Gaza, including 14 children, and six in Israel, including an Israeli soldier and one Indian national, since Monday.
