United Nations, December 31 (RHC-teleSUR), -- The United Nations Security Council rejected a Palestinian resolution demanding an end to Israeli occupation and the recognition of the Palestinian State on Tuesday.

The draft was defeated with eight votes in favor, two votes against and five abstentions.

Permanent Security Council members France, China and Russia were among the countries that supported the text setting a 12-month deadline for negotiations on a final peace deal with Israel. Venezuela, a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, also voted in favor.

Australia and the United States were the only countries to vote against, with the UK, Lithuania, Nigeria, Korea and Rwanda abstaining from the vote.

The bid for the recognition of the Palestinian state was submitted by an Arab coalition earlier this month and the 22 Arab ambassadors to the United Nations met earlier on Tuesday to put the resolution to a vote at the Security Council.

The draft resolution called for negotiations to be based on borders existing before Israel's occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in 1967. Other demands included recognition of east Jerusalem as Palestine's capital as well as an end to the illegal building of Jewish settlements on occupied lands.