US averts UN diplomatic crisis over Israeli settlements

By EDITH M. LEDERER and MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Biden administration has averted a potential diplomatic crisis over Israeli settlements at the United Nations. The issue had threatened to overshadow Western efforts for the U.N. to spotlight Russia’s war with Ukraine during its one-year anniversary. Multiple diplomats familiar with the situation say the U.S. has successfully managed to forestall a contentious U.N. Security Council resolution pushed by the Palestinians and their supporters. It would have condemned Israel for settlement expansion and demanded a halt to future activity. Instead, the diplomats say, the administration has managed to persuade both Israel and the Palestinians to agree in principle to a six-month freeze in any unilateral action they might take.