UN Security Council meets on Israel but U.S. blocks statement

The UN Security Council held another emergency meeting Wednesday on worsening hostilities between Israel and Palestinians, again without agreeing on a joint statement due to opposition from the United States, Israel's key ally, according to diplomats.

The United States saw the Security Council meeting as a sufficient show of concern, one diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The U.S. doesn't see that a statement will help de-escalate," The AFP cited another diplomat as saying.

According to several sources, 14 of the 15 members of the Council were in favor of adopting a joint declaration aimed at reducing tension.

UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland warned the meeting that the "situation has deteriorated since Monday... there is a risk of a spiral of violence," according to a diplomatic source.

During a first emergency meeting on Monday, the United States also refused to back a text proposed by Tunisia, Norway and China calling on all parties to refrain from provocation.