UN Security Council fails to adopt Palestinian-drafted resolution

UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday did not adopt a Palestinian-drafted resolution urging Israel to end occupation by the end of 2017.

The draft resolution received eight "yes" votes and five abstentions, one vote short of the needed nine votes in favor for it to be adopted. The United States and Australia voted against it.

Even if it had gained the minimum nine votes needed for adoption, the United States, one of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the council, would have vetoed it.

The draft resolution "affirms the urgent need to attain, no later than 12 months after the adoption of this resolution, a just, lasting and comprehensive peaceful solution that brings an end to the Israeli occupation since 1967 and fulfills the vision of two independent, democratic and prosperous states, Israel and a sovereign, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within mutually and internationally recognized borders."

It also outlined several parameters for a peace agreement, predominantly the one that says "borders based on June 4, 1967 lines with mutually agreed, limited, equivalent land swaps."

Security Council member Jordan had requested the vote on the draft resolution.