The United States has vetoed a Palestinian-drafted UN Security Council resolution to stop Israel from building its security fence: U.S. Vetoes UN Plea to Bar Israeli Security Fence.

The measure, which also would have denounced plans to build 600 new homes in Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories, won the support of 10 of the council’s 15 members while four others abstained — Britain, Germany, Bulgaria and Cameroon.

But the “No” vote from Washington, one of the council’s five permanent members with veto power, was enough to kill the resolution.

Voting in favor were Angola, Chile, China, France, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Spain and Syria.

The United States argued unsuccessfully for a delay in the council’s deliberations in hopes of a compromise that could avert a veto. But council member Syria insisted on an immediate vote on a text the United States had made clear it would kill, U.S. officials said.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said the resolution would have had to denounce, by name, the main groups that have taken responsibility for the suicide bombings and also condemn the recent deadly attack in Haifa, Israel, to avoid a veto — conditions the Palestinians rejected as unacceptable.