The Latest: Palestinian official denounces US Jerusalem veto

UNITED NATIONS — The Latest on the U.N Security Council vote on a resolution that would require the U.S. to rescind its declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (all times local):

2:10 p.m.

A Palestinian official has denounced the U.S. veto of a U.N. resolution on the status of Jerusalem as a “provocation.”

Nabil Abu Rdeneh is an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He says Monday’s veto goes against the international consensus, underscores Washington’s growing international isolation and “will not help in creating peace in the region.”

The Egyptian-sponsored resolution would have required President Donald Trump to rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It was approved by the 14 other council members, a reflection of the depth of global opposition to Trump’s action.

Earlier Monday, Abbas said he will seek a U.N. upgrade for “Palestine,” which was recognized in 2012 by the General Assembly as a non-member observer state.

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2 p.m.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley says she vetoed a U.N. resolution demanding that President Donald Trump rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel “in defense of American sovereignty and in defense of America’s role in the Middle East peace process.”

She told the Security Council after casting the first U.S. veto in more than six years that “the United States will not be told by any country where we can put our embassy.”

Haley stressed that Trump “took great care not to prejudge final status negotiations in any way.”

The resolution was approved by the 14 other council members.

Haley accused some unnamed countries of “trying to distort the president’s decision to serve their own agendas,” and insisted the U.S. position “is fully in line with previous Security Council resolutions.”

Haley noted that the U.S. has given more than $5 billion to the Palestinians since 1994, more than any other country and she said: “The United States has never been more committed to peace in the Middle East.”

She called the vote “an insult,” and added, “It won’t be forgotten.”

Haley says “It’s one more example of the United Nations doing more harm than good in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

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1:45 p.m.

Israel’s prime minister is thanking the U.S. for vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In a video posted to Facebook Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu says U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikky Haley “lit a candle of truth” and dispelled “lies.” He is comparing Haley to the Maccabees, Jewish warriors commemorated during the current Jewish holiday of Hannukkah for revolting against Hellenic rulers, rededicating the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and establishing a Jewish Kingdom in Judea.

In Netanyahu’s words, “One defeated the many, truth defeated lies.”

Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel considers the city its eternal capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector as capital of their hoped-for state.

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1:35 p.m.

The Israeli military says an investigation into the fatal shooting of a paraplegic Palestinian man has determined there were no “moral or professional failures” in his death.

Palestinian health officials say Ibrahim Abu Thraya, 29, was shot in the head while demonstrating along Gaza’s border with Israel last week. The area has experienced unrest since President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital this month.

The military said that Friday’s protest was “extremely violent.” In its findings Monday, it said no live fire was aimed at Abu Thraya and it was impossible to determine the cause of death. It says it has repeatedly requested details about Abu Thraya’s injuries and will examine them if they are received.

Abu Thraya’s death has become a rallying cry among Palestinians against Trump’s declaration.

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1:20 p.m.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will no longer accept the U.S. as a Mideast mediator, using some of his harshest rhetoric since President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Abbas said in public comments to senior Palestinian officials Monday that “a crazy person wouldn’t accept” such a role for Washington after Trump’s announcement two weeks ago.

The Palestinians want their future capital in east Jerusalem, which was captured and annexed by Israel in 1967.

Trump’s announcement was seen as siding with Israel, which says it won’t give up any part of the city, home to major Jewish, Muslim and Christian shrines.

Under a longstanding international consensus, the fate of Jerusalem is to be determined in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Abbas has become sharply critical of Washington after years of courting the U.S.

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12:40 p.m.

The United States has vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The Egyptian-sponsored Security Council resolution was approved by the 14 other council members, a reflection of the depth of global opposition to Trump’s action.

Arab nations knew in advance that the United States was certain to veto the resolution, but they sought the vote to demonstrate that countries everywhere and even many U.S. allies such as Britain, France and Japan are against Trump’s action.

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley called the resolution “an insult” that won’t be forgotten, saying the United Nations forced the U.S. to cast a veto simply because of its right to decide where to put its embassy.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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