New York: Libya and it allies today blocked the UN Security Council from issuing a US-drafted statement condemning the deadly attack by a Palestinian gunman on a Jewish school in Jerusalem as "terrorist action", drawing a furious reaction from Israel.

Within hours of the attack, the deadliest in four years, which left at least eight students dead, the 15-member Council met in an emergency session and Washington had hoped for a quick statement condemning the attack.

Libya wanted the statement to also condemn the recent Israeli action Gaza in which some 120 Palestinian were killed but American UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad rejected the demand, arguing that the two situations were quite different.

A statement, which is considered a step below a resolution, requires consent of all 15 UNSC members while a resolution can be adopted by nine affirmative votes provided there is no veto by a permanent member.

An angry Israeli Ambassador to UN Dan Gillerman lashed out at Libya following the deadlock describing it as a "terrorist country".

"Unfortunately this is what happens when the Security Council is infiltrated by terrorists. It brings into question the legitimacy of such a country not just being in the Security Council but being a member of the United Nations," he said.

Libya s deputy UN representative Ibrahim al-Dabbashi said his country did not need "a certificate of good conduct from the Israeli terrorist regime".
Source : PTI