Even as hopes of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip failed on Tuesday, diplomatic talks continue at the backstage as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins an emergency trip to the Middle East on a peace mission.
Clinton takes up the difficult task of initiating a truce between the sworn enemies as it would measure the U.S. influence in the region post the Arab Spring upheavals.
Meanwhile, the United States blocked a U.N. Security Council statement condemning the growing violence between Israel and the Palestinians stating that the council failed to address the root cause - the relentless rocket attacks by Hamas, the Reuters reported.
Clinton held a late-night meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after which she called for a "durable outcome" in the ongoing violence between both the sides. While assuring Netanyahu of the "rock-solid" U.S. support for Israel's security, she said United States will work for a truce deal in the coming days.
"In the days ahead, the United States will work with our partners here in Israel and across the region toward an outcome that bolsters security for the people of Israel, improves conditions for the people of Gaza and moves toward a comprehensive peace for all people of the region," Clinton said after the meeting with the Israeli prime minister. "Now if there is a possibility of achieving a long term solution to this problem, through diplomatic means, we prefer that. But if not, I'm sure you understand that Israel will have to take whatever action is necessary to defend its people," Xinhua Net quoted Netanyahu speaking alongside Clinton.
However, the United States move towards blocking the UN statement will predictably invite widespread fury for its overprotective attitude when it comes to the Israeli aggression.
"We made clear that we would measure any action by the Security Council based on whether it supported the ongoing diplomacy toward de-escalation of violence and a durable outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities," Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, was quoted in the report.
"By failing to call for the immediate and permanent halt to rocket launches from Gaza into Israel, this press statement failed to contribute constructively to those goals. As such, we could not agree to this statement," she said.
The U.S. action is expected to bring out a possible stand-off with the Russians on the issue whose U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin insisted that if the 15-member council fail to agree on a statement, then the it would put a resolution on the matter to a vote.
The resolution, which is a much stronger move than a statement, would call for an end of the bloody conflict and support the global efforts for a peace treaty. "I think we should have said something (on the conflict) a long time ago," Churkin said. "We will assess the situation (on Wednesday morning)," Churkin told Reuters.
