Clinton Undermines Palestinian UN Move as “Not Helpful” to Already Dead Talks

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton bluffed Thursday the Palestinian diplomatic move to end the Israeli settlement construction through submitting a UN draft resolution; weeks after she herself mourned the direct talks between the two sides. “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved through direct peace negotiations, not by submitting resolutions to the UN Security Council condemning Israeli settlements,” she said. Clinton also doubted the efficiency of a UN action towards this matter. “We don’t see action in the United Nations or any other forum as being helpful in bringing about that desired outcome,” she said, before adding that the United States is “working to keep the focus where we think it needs to be, and that’s not in New York.” Lebanon – the rotating Arab member in the Security Council– had presented a draft resolution to the UNSC demanding that Israel halts construction in settlements on Palestinian territory, and defines the construction on all lands occupied in 1967 as illegal and a key obstacle to a comprehensive, just peace agreement. It was signed by 122 out of 192 member states. Palestinian diplomats found some international support, but the US strongly opposed bringing the matter up in the UNSC. “Halting the settlements’ construction won’t lead to resuming the Palestinian talks because this draft resolution won’t be adopted” as long as the US has the right to veto, Palestinian researcher and writer Khaled Abou Heit told Al-Manar Internet Website on Thursday.