US withdraws West Asia peace resolution

“We looked at this matter, talked about it and at the end of the day Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice believes that the positive results of Annapolis speak by themselves,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

“You take a look at all the positive effects that came out of Annapolis and we were not sure that we saw a need to add anything to the conversation. Sometimes the results of the events speak for themselves,” he added.

The US draft said the council endorses the programme of action for negotiations and implementation of outstanding obligations agreed upon by the Israeli and Palestinian leadership at Annapolis, Maryland on November 27, 2007.”

On Thursday, after the session at which the draft was submitted, the US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Security Council members intended to discuss the text with the parties involved.

His comments appeared to suggest that Israel and the Palestinians had not been consulted before the text was drafted. And there were even doubts whether the US State Department had been informed that the text was to be presented on Thursday.

A senior US government official, who asked not to be named, told reporters: “I don’t think anybody saw the need (for a resolution).