Islam Times - Russia: US filibustering to help Israel

Islam Times - Russia accuses the United States of ‘filibustering’ a UN Security Council statement condemning the intensified Israeli attacks against the Palestinians in the Tel Aviv-besieged Gaza Strip.

Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said on Monday that Washington was hindering efforts aimed at issuance of a condemnatory statement by the UN, saying Moscow was prepared to propose a full-council resolution against the aggression.

"To me it unfortunately looked like a little bit of a filibuster attempt," Churkin told reporters after new round of talks among the 15-nation council.

The Russian envoy also warned that Moscow would propose the full-council resolution if a statement calling for an end to the aggression was not agreed upon by Wednesday morning.

As many as 110 Palestinians have been killed and more than 900 others injured in the Israeli attacks against the coastal sliver since November 14.

Right after the council meeting, the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice said that Washington would not allow a UN statement denouncing the atrocities.

She also said that the US administration opposes any move, which undermined, what she said were, efforts aimed at bringing about a ceasefire.

The UN statement was proposed by Morocco , the representative of Arab countries on the 15-nation council.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority’s ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour slammed the Security Council for its inaction on Israel's ongoing attacks against Gaza.

"We emphasized the urgency of the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and to stop this aggression against our people," Mansour said.