The United States blocked an attempt to get the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes on the outskirts of Jerusalem, diplomats said.

Citing 17 Palestinians who would be displaced by the destruction, UN officials had called on Israel to halt the plans. But Israel continued, saying the 10 apartment buildings it demolished on Monday had been built illegally, and posed a threat to Israeli armed forces along the occupied West Bank. Most of the homes were still under construction.

On Tuesday, Kuwait, Indonesia, and South Africa circulated a five-paragraph draft statement to the 15-member Security Council expressing concern. The document, seen by Reuters, warned that the demolition “undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for just and lasting peace.”

The US told its counterparts that would not support the text, diplomats said. The country also rejected a revised three-paragraph draft statement.

Back home, the US House of Representatives voted to condemn the growing boycott movement against Israel on Tuesday, following a similar bill passed by the Senate.

Freshman congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib both voiced concern for the vote. Representative Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman in congress, gave a speech on the House floor the morning of the vote about her personal experience.

“I stand before you the daughter of Palestinian immigrants,” she said. “Parents who experienced being stripped of their human rights, the right to freedom of travel, equal treatment. So I can’t stand by and watch this attack on our freedom of speech and the right to boycott the racist policies of the government and the state of Israel. I love our country’s freedom of speech, Madam Speaker. Dissent is how we nurture democracy.”

National Demonstration for Palestine Show all 57 1 /57 National Demonstration for Palestine National Demonstration for Palestine Protest icon, Ahed Tamimi meets supporters of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Marie Berry National Demonstration for Palestine Rapper and activist Lowkey meet a supporter of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Saskia Whitfield National Demonstration for Palestine Dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah meets supporters of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 National Demonstration for Palestine Journalists report from the scene of the demonstration at Whitehall during the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters of the Palestine cause pose for a picture at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Tariq Ali speaks to the crowd at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Diane Abbott at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Shamil Jorda from Friends of Al Aqsa (left) said it was important to advocate self determination for Palestine, however, he said "it is up to the Palestinian people to decide what solution they want ” and that the UK government needs to ensure it implements international law and abides by UN resolutions. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Protest icon Ahed Tamimi speaks to the media at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine MP Richard Bergen gives a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian protest icon Ahed Tamimi gives a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian protest icon Ahed Tamimi gives a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi became a global sensation after she slapped an Israeli soldier at the West Bank last year. She is stood here next to Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Dr Husam Zomlot who introduced her to the crowd at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Protestors show solidarity for Palestine at at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi became a global sensation after she slapped an Israeli soldier at the West Bank last year. She is stood here next to Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Dr Husam Zomlot who introduced her to the crowd at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Dr Husam Zomlot speaks to the crowd at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Zita Holborn, national vice chairman of the Public and Commercial Services Union and chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Member of the media backstage at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Stewards back stage at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Ahed Tamimi with her father and supporters back stage at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A supporter listens intently to a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A speaker at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Salma Yaqoob at Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019. She told The Independent the UK and US need to be “honest brokers” because its role “has been too one-sided.” She added: “First off, the UK can stop arms trading with Israel. There needs to be a social and political boycott of the state of Israel and people need to keep to the promises they made years ago. The UK needs to take a moral leadership in that, but instead, we’re seeing the very opposite.” Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Ahed Tamimi with her father Bessem, back stage at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A supporter at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Celtic Football Club supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine An Indonesian family show their support at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Catherine Charrett, a lecturer at Queen Mary and Westfield College’s School of Politics and International Relations told The Independent it was crucial to bring an end to Israel’s apartheid system. She said: “You cannot continue to treat a population as if they’re targets of war to be used for military practice. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A supporter at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine The crowd of protestors included members of ultra Orthodox Jewish community, the Haredi, who said they were there to show solidarity because they did not support the oppression of the Palestinian people. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine The crowd of protestors included members of ultra Orthodox Jewish community, the Haredi, who said they were there to show solidarity because they did not support the oppression of the Palestinian people. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Football Against Apartheid at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Flags and banners at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Flags and banners at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A speaker at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent

Still, the bill passed with only seventeen members voting no, including fellow “Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Representative Ayanna Pressley, the fourth member of the group of freshmen women who recently faced virulent attacks from the president and his supporters, voted yes.

The future of Jerusalem, which is home to over 500,000 Israelis and 300,000 Palestinians, is a longstanding international debate. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with east Jerusalem as the capital, all territory captured by Israel in 1967. Allies on both sides have been fierce with both support and detraction.

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt and senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have spent two years developing a peace plan they hope will provide a framework for renewed talks between the groups. The role of Mr Kushner, whose background is mostly in real estate, in the complicated diplomatic situation has been questioned.