The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israeli settlements as illegal.
The Security Council resolution, which was brought to a vote Friday afternoon, earned the support of the council's other 14 members.
The Obama administration, which opposes Israeli settlements, said raising the issue at the United Nations would only complicate efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.
The American ambassador, Susan Rice, reiterated the administration's opposition to Israeli settlement policy but warned that the resolution would lead to a "hardening" of positions on both sides.