Action against Israelis and apartheid blocked regularly

The Bush administration and British government have repeatedly blamed France's threatened veto for the failure to secure a second UN resolution authorising military action against Iraq.

What Washington has failed to mention is its own veto over many years to block initiatives such as opposition to apartheid South Africa, and even the prohibition of chemical weapons. Below is a partial list of UN resolutions vetoed by the US since 1972.

1972 Israel condemned for killing hundreds of people in Syria and Lebanon in air raids.

1973 Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.

1976 Israel condemned for attacking Lebanese civilians and building settlements in the occupied territories. Call for Palestinian self-determination.

1978 Permanent members of the security council to ensure UN decisions on the maintenance of international peace and security. Living conditions of the Palestinians criticised. Israeli human rights record condemned. Developed countries to increase aid to developing countries.

1979 End to all military and nuclear collaboration with apartheid. Arms embargo against South Africa to be strengthened. Support for the oppressed under apartheid.

Cessation of the nuclear arms race. Return of all inhabitants expelled by Israel. Israel to desist from human rights violations. Inquiry into the living conditions of Palestinians in occupied territories. Protection of developing countries' exports. Push to improve human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Opposition to intervention in the internal or external affairs of states. Call for a UN conference on women. Rights of developing countries in multinational trade talks to be safeguarded.

1980 Israel to return displaced persons. Israeli human rights practices in occupied territories condemned. Right of self determination for the Palestinians. Support for the oppressed people of South Africa. New international economic order to promote the growth of underdeveloped countries. Programme of action for UN Decade for Women. Non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states. Development of nations and individuals is a human right. Cessation of all nuclear test explosions. Independence for colonial countries.

1981 Promotion of cooperative movements in developing countries. Right of every state to choose its economic and social system, without outside interference.

Cessation of all test explosions of nuclear weapons. Measures to prevent nuclear war and curb the arms race. Negotiations to prohibit chemical and biological weapons. Education, work, health care, etc, are human rights.

South Africa condemned for attacks on neighbouring states and apartheid. Attempted coup by South Africa in the Seychelles condemned. Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, human rights policies and its bombing of Iraq condemned.

1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon condemned. Shooting of 11 Muslims at a shrine in Jerusalem by an Israeli soldier condemned.

Israel must withdraw from the Golan Heights. Apartheid condemned. Setting up of a world charter for ecological protection.

Support for a new world information and communications order. Prohibition of chemical and bacteriological weapons. Development of international law. Protection against products harmful to health and the environment. Development of energy resources of developing countries.

1983 Fifteen resolutions about apartheid, nuclear arms, economics and international law.

1984 South African policies in Namibia condemned. International action to eliminate apartheid. Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon condemned. Eighteen resolutions about apartheid, nuclear arms, economics, international law.

1985 Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon condemned. Excessive Israeli force in the occupied territories condemned. Three resolutions about cooperation, human rights, trade and development.

Action against Nazi, fascist and neo-fascist activities.

1986 All governments to observe international law.

Economic and military sanctions against South Africa. Israeli actions against Lebanese civilians condemned. Israel to respect Muslim holy places. Israeli sky-jacking of Libyan airliner condemned. Eight resolutions about cooperation, security, human rights, etc.

1987 Israel to abide by the Geneva conventions in its treatment of the Palestinians. Israel to stop deporting Palestinians. Israeli actions in Lebanon condemned. Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. Cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States. Prevention of international terrorism.

Opposition to the build up of weapons in space. Opposition to the development of new weapons of mass destruction. Opposition to nuclear testing.

Proposal to set up South Atlantic "zone of peace".

1988 Israeli practices against Palestinians in the occupied territories condemned.

1989 US invasion of Panama condemned. US support for the contras in Nicaragua condemned. Illegal US embargo of Nicaragua condemned. Acquisition of territory by force opposed. Resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

1990 UN to send observers to the occupied territories.

1995 Land in east Jerusalem annexed by Israel is occupied territory.

1997 Israel must cease building settlements in east Jerusalem and other occupied territories.

1999 US to end trade embargo on Cuba.

2001 UN to send unarmed monitors to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. UN to set up the international criminal court.

2002 UN to renew the peace keeping mission in Bosnia.