Since the inception of the United Nations (UN), the Palestine question has been one of the most persistent topics on the UN agenda. Between 1948 and today, the UN Security Council has adopted 58 resolutions that deal with the issue of Palestine, including the situation in the Occupied Territories (OPT) and Jerusalem, and attacks against Palestinian targets. This number does not include Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Egypt, nor does it include unspecified resolutions regarding the situation in the Middle East. While the UN Security Council has shown great interest in the maintenance of peace and security in Palestine and the Middle East, little of its work has had any major effect on the situation in the area. The implementation of the Security Council resolutions have proved to be very difficult, as Israel, one of the main parties of the conflict, customarily ignores the resolutions, and continues breaching international regulations and laws, such as the 1949 Forth Geneva Convention, the UN charter, and UN Security Council resolutions. For instance, resolution 242 of 1967 and 338 of 1973 are two key resolutions that Israel has refused to comply with, despite the fact that these two resolutions make the foundation upon which the Oslo Accords are based. In Resolution 242 (1967), the Security Council underlines that all Member States are committed to act in accordance with Article 2 of the UN charter, which affirms that All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations. The resolution furthermore calls for Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied in the 1967 war, and emphasizes the need for "a just settlement of the refugee problem". A number of resolutions with similar wording have since then followed, and have likewise been ignored by the Israeli authorities. Israel's blatant ignorance of the Security Council resolutions is likely much due to the unconditional support the country has been given by the US. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the US has the privilege of the veto power. By means of its veto power, the US has managed to protect Israel from numerous resolutions condemning Israeli actions, policies, and its refusal to comply with UN resolutions and international law. 21 of the vetoed drafts are directly concerned with the issue of Palestine or attacks on Palestinian targets, and include sharp criticism against Israeli human rights violations, calls for the cessation of collective punishment, home demolitions and deportations, and denouncement of Israeli establishments of illegal settlements (for more information, see below). The US use of the veto has furthermore prevented the establishment of an UN observer force, on-site monitoring of the situation, and enforcement of earlier resolutions. In addition to the drafts that have been vetoed, the threat of the US veto has shield Israel from criticism by forcing the members of the Security Council to settle with a statement instead of a resolution. List of US vetoes cast against UN Security Council Resolutions on Palestine 1. 24 Jul. 1973. S/10974 Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
2. 23 Jan. 1976. S/11940 Vote: 9 in favor, 1 veto (US), 3 abstentions.
3. 24 Mar. 1976. S/12022 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
4. 29 Jun. 1976. S/12119 Vote: 10 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
5. 30 Apr. 1980. S/13911 Vote: 10 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
6. 1 Apr. 1982. S/14943 Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
7. 20 Apr. 1982. S/14985 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
8. 8 Jun. 1982 S/15185 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
9. 25 Jun. 1982 S/15255/Rev. 2 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
10. 6 Aug. 1982 S/15347/Rev. 1 Vote: 11 in favor, 1 veto, 3 abstentions.
11. 1 Aug. 1983. S/15895 Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
12. 12 Sep. 1985. S/17459 Vote: 10 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
13. 29 Jan. 1986. S/17769 Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
14. 29 Jan. 1988. S/19466 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
15. 14 Apr. 1988. S/19780 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
16. 17 Feb. 1989. S/20463 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
17. 9 Jun. 1989. S/20677 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
18. 6 Nov. 1989. S/20945/Rev. 1 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
19. 30 May 1990. S/21326 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
20. 17 May 1995. S/1995/394 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
21. 7 Mar. 1997. S/1997/199 Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
22. 21 Mar. 1997. S/1997/241 Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
23. 26 Mar. 2001. S/2001/270 Vote: 9 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
24. 14 Dec. 2001. S/2001/1199 Vote: 12 in favor, 1 veto (US) 2 abstentions.
Sources: 1. UN: The United Nations, "Security Council documents", www.un.org
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