The United States vetoed a UN resolution today that would have condemned Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Haaretz, the Israeli daily, reported that it was the first time a UN Security Council was vetoed in nearly two years. The last veto, not surprisingly, was also cast by the U.S. to thwart a resolution condemning Israel’s excessive use of force against Palestinians in Gaza. According to The Jewish Virtual Library, the US has vetoed 40 Security Council resolutions critical of Israel since 1972.