Israeli envoy sees firm U.S. support at U.N. Council

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Obama administration has assured Israel it will continue defending Israel at the United Nations despite the allies' dispute over West Bank settlements, Israel's U.N. ambassador said on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has balked at U.S. President Barack Obama's call to freeze settlements on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood, stirring speculation that Washington could eventually apply diplomatic pressure.

One scenario sees the Americans, who have regularly vetoed U.N. Security Council resolutions that would have censured Israel, refraining from such active support at the world forum or scaling back Israel's access to U.S. decision-making.

Asked on Israel's Channel Ten television whether the veto could be at risk, Shalev said: "We were told explicitly (by the Americans) that there are no consultations and no discussions at all within the administration in this direction."

"There is ongoing dialogue between the delegations, between the ambassadors. Today there is also a very good dialogue between myself and (U.S.) Ambassador (Susan) Rice, who is a confidante of President Obama."

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is due to meet Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, in New York on Tuesday in a bid to bridge the rifts over settlements.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Ralph Boulton)