UNITED NATIONS –– The United States vetoed an Arab-backed resolution that would have condemned Israel for the recent killings of three U.N. workers, saying it was "inappropriate" to single out the Israelis.

Twelve other council members – including close U.S. ally Britain – voted in favor of the resolution Friday. Bulgaria and Cameroon abstained.

The resolution expressed "grave concern" at the killings by Israeli troops and demanded that Israel "refrain from the excessive and disproportionate use of force in the Occupied Palestinian territories." It also demanded that Israel comply fully with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which deals with the protection of civilians during war.

But the veto by the United States – one of five permanent council members with such power – means that the resolution was not adopted. The last U.S. veto, in December 2001, also was cast against a Mideast resolution and critics accused the Americans of being biased toward the Israelis.

"The proponents of this resolution appear more intent on condemning Israeli occupation than on ensuring the safety of United Nations personnel," U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said before the vote.

"Mixing these two issues is inappropriate and weakens the Council´s voice on the need for both parties to take steps to avoid actions that endanger innocent civilians and United Nations staff," he added.

Syria´s U.N. Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, the only Arab member of the council, rejected U.S. attempts to amend the resolution to eliminate the reference to Israel´s disproportionate use of force. The United States would also have dropped the demand for Israel to comply with the Fourth Geneva Convention.

"We ... do not believe that it is in any way permissible to give Israel the right to kill United Nations personnel without accountability or sanction," Wehbe said.

"If the Security Council is unable to put an end to such Israeli practices because of the protection given by one permanent member state to Israel, that will open the door wide to flouting international humanitarian law," he said.

Negroponte, who called the Syrian draft "one-sided," said the United States reserves the right to resubmit its draft next week.

The U.S. veto came hours after top U.S., U.N., European Union and Russian officials met in Washington to work on a roadmap to Israeli- Palestinian peace that envisions two states living in harmony.

"Adoption of this resolution does not contribute to an environment where both sides would be ready to move forward in implementing the practical steps in the roadmap," Negroponte said.

In Washington, a statement issued after the peace plan meeting deplored the killing of innocent Palestinians and U.N. workers in Israeli security operations. It said Israel should change its rules for countering terror to avoid civilian casualties and withdraw troops from populated Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza.

Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinian U.N. envoy, also accused the United States of protecting Israel from Security Council condemnation.

Israel´s deputy U.N. ambassador Aaron Jacob expressed regret for the deaths, and accepted that attention must be paid to Israel´s action. But he said "we cannot help but be distressed with what seems to be a singular attempt to focus on Israel."

Israeli soldiers shot and killed Briton Iain Hook on Nov. 22 during a gunbattle with armed Palestinians in the West Bank. The army said its soldiers mistook Hook´s cell phone for a weapon after gunmen entered the U.N. compound. The U.N. relief agency denies that gunmen had entered the compound.

Two Palestinian school employees working for a U.N. relief agency were among 10 Palestinians killed in Gaza on Dec. 6.

The Syrian resolution also would have expressed "deep concern" at Israel´s destruction of a U.N. World Food Program warehouse in Beit Lahiya, in the Gaza Strip, on Nov. 30. (© 2002 The Associated Press 12/21/02)