Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that recommended that the General Assembly accept Palestine as a full member of the international organization.

Twelve members of the Security Council voted for this proposal, with Switzerland and Great Britain abstaining, RIA Novosti reports.

Palestine currently has observer status at the UN, while Israel has been a full member since 1948.

The resolution was prepared by Algeria on behalf of the Arab countries and read as follows: “The Security Council, having examined the application of the State of Palestine for membership in the United Nations, recommends to the General Assembly the admission of the State of Palestine to membership of the United Nations.”

If approved by the Security Council, the recommendation would be sent to the General Assembly, where a two-thirds vote is required to admit a new state.

Russian Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya commented on the US decision as follows: “By using a veto for the fifth time since the beginning of the deterioration of the situation in Gaza, the US once again showed its true attitude towards the Palestinians. According to Washington, the Palestinians do not deserve to have their own state. They are only an obstacle to the realization of Israel’s interests.” He also added that the US actions put them in almost complete isolation.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed gratitude to the United States for vetoing the “shameful proposal” to admit Palestine to the UN, which followed six months after the Hamas attack on Israel.

Palestine Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour expressed his determination to continue the fight for recognition: "The failure of this resolution will not break our will and will not stop our aspiration. We will continue our struggle. The State of Palestine will inevitably become a reality," he said.

According to the Intercept, which cites leaked diplomatic communications, the United States pressured members of the UN Security Council to reject a resolution on Palestinian membership in the organization, which would allow Washington to avoid using the veto.

One report indicated that, at the request of the United States, Ecuador’s foreign minister instructed his permanent representative to the UN to put pressure on Japan, South Korea, Malta (non-permanent members of the Security Council) and France to reject the proposal for Palestinian membership in the UN.