The United States says it does not back a draft United Nations resolution on Palestinian statehood, in part, because it would not guarantee Israel’s security.

State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said Monday U.S. officials do not believe the resolution is constructive. He said it sets an arbitrary deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, making peace talks less likely to succeed.

Rathke also said the draft fails to take into account Israel’s legitimate security needs, which he said are necessary for a sustainable settlement.

Palestinians are pressing the Security Council to vote this week on a draft calling on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within three years.

The resolution also calls for a peace deal with Israel within a year and creates a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, but most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Arab ambassadors met Monday at the U.N. regarding the wording of the statehood resolution, which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said would be submitted to the 15-member Security Council later in the day.

The United States has veto power as one of five permanent members of the Security Council. The resolution needs approval of at least nine countries on the Security Council to pass.

Some information for this report comes from AP, AFP and Reuters.

 
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