Washington vetoes Palestinian bid for recognition as full UN member state

The US blocked the UN Security Council on Thursday from moving forward on a Palestinian bid to be recognised as a full member state at the UN, quashing an effort by Palestinian allies to get the world body to back the effort. The vote was 12 in favour of the resolution and one - the US - opposed, with abstentions from Britain and Switzerland.
After the vote, Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour delivered a passionate address asserting the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.A spokesperson for the US state department said, "It remains the US view that the most expeditious path toward statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the US and other partners."