United Nations: The United States has withdrawn a UN resolution endorsing this week's peace pact by Palestinian and Israeli leaders because of Israeli objections.
The abrupt US move on Friday surprised many UN diplomats because the peace settlement had overwhelming support in the Security Council.
The United States also did not consult Israel, one of its closest allies, before introducing the draft resolution on Thursday afternoon.
Diplomats said Israel did not want a resolution because it would bring the Security Council, which it distrusts, into the fledgling negotiations with the Palestinians.
"We feel that the appreciation of Annapolis has other means of being expressed than in a resolution," Israel's deputy ambassador Daniel Carmon said after Friday's meeting
In Washington, the State Department said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had decided a resolution was unnecessary.
"I am not sure that we saw the need to add anything else to the conversation. Sometimes, the results and the event speak for themselves," spokesman Sean McCormack said.
Two US officials said there were several concerns about the resolution, including the failure to consult the Palestinians and Israelis on the language and the possibility that some on the Security Council might try to add anti-Israeli language to it.
