The UN Security Council early Friday morning wrapped up a five-hour discussion without agreeing on a draft resolution condemning Israel's "excessive use of force" in Jerusalem and the West Bank, diplomats said.
But Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, Jeremy Greenstock indicated the council would vote on the issue Friday after participants had consulted with their respective capitals.
"I think we have made very good progress and we are all determined to reach a conclusion during the course of Friday," Greenstock said.
"There are very few sticking points left," he added.
The text, drafted by the Palestinian observer to the UN, Nasser Al-Kidwa, reportedly had been considerably toned down during the prolonged closed-door discussions.
"There is no agreement yet," Al-Kidwa noted at the end of the meeting. According to diplomats here, the Palestinian observer had criticized the latest draft as overly conciliatory toward Israel.
Al-Kidwa had introduced to the council a draft resolution that both condemned acts of violence committed by Israeli security forces and called for the immediate creation of an investigation commission.
The actual draft "condemns all acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians," but does not specifically mention Israel.
Diplomats have said that although the United States had previously been willing for the council to condemn excessive use of force in a statement, it would almost certainly veto a binding resolution.
Council president Martin Andjaba had said earlier a vote might be taken Friday on the text, which called for "the immediate cessation of hostilities" that have claimed at least 76 lives - UNITED NATIONS (AFP)
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