The United States has exercised its veto right in the United Nations Security council to block a resolution demanding a full membership status for Palestine.

The draft resolution was introduced by Algeria and recommends to the General Assembly that "the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations."

It received 12 votes in favor, two abstentions and one against.

Earlier today, the United States Department of State Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel stated that his country will veto the upcoming resolution at the UN Security Council put forward to grant a full membership status for Palestine at the United Nations.

Patel said there the committee members were not unanimous on whether Palestine had met the necessary criteria to be defined as a state, adding that the Palestinian Authority needs significant reforms before statehood can be granted to them by the UN Security Council.

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