By Patrick Worsnip 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States withdrew on Friday a draft U.N. resolution endorsing action agreed at this week's Annapolis Middle East peace conference, a document Israeli officials said they felt was inappropriate.
Israeli diplomats at the United Nations said they did not object to the Security Council backing the outcome of Tuesday's meeting but did not consider a resolution the right way to do so. They also hinted Israel had not been consulted in advance on the draft the United States put to the council on Thursday.
After council discussions on the issue, U.S. envoy Alejandro Wolff told reporters Washington's "intensive consultations" had led it to conclude there was "some unease with that type of product" -- a resolution.
"In respect to both parties (Israelis and Palestinians) in terms of what they thought would be most helpful, we reached the conclusion that it would be best simply to withdraw it," he said, adding that the focus should be on Annapolis.
more Wed Nov 28, 6:35 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday reiterated his pledge the United States would defend Israel if it was attacked by Iran, a country whose president has urged that the Jewish state be "wiped off the map."
"I have made it clear that ... we will support our ally Israel if attacked by Iran," Bush said in an interview with CNN that comes on the heels of a Middle East summit aimed at rekindling peace talks between Israel and Palestinians.
"I hope it doesn't happen," he said.
Still, Bush said he took seriously the various comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about Israel. Ahmadinejad has questioned whether the genocide by the Nazis against Jews took place, one of a number of comments that have fueled international criticism.
The United States and other Western powers have accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons under the cover of a nuclear energy program, a charge Iran denies. The White House has also accused Iran of aiding insurgents in neighboring Iraq.
more For Bush, the time is right for a photo op