UNITED NATIONS, April 10: The United States declared on Tuesday that it would veto another Arab drafted resolution asking Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities underscoring that US Secretary of State Colin Powell needed time to pursue his peace mission.

“The Security Council should get out of the business of producing documents,” US delegate James Cunningham said. He noted that the UN Security Council has already adopted three resolutions on Middle East last month, including two demanding Israeli pullout from the occupied territories.

“The focus of activity is now where it should be, in the region, with Secretary Powell engaging in all his contacts,” Cunningham told reporters.

While Cunningham hoped Arab nations would not press the issue at this time, “we would veto this resolution if it was brought to a vote.”

Earlier, Palestinian United Nations observer Nasser Al-Kidwa predicted a council vote on the Arab draft on Wednesday, following a meeting in Madrid of the so-called Quartet of key peace envoys from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.