Even Russia and China thought it wise to endorse a declaration in the UN Security Council expressing horror, though Russia still managed to pretend that no one knew who the culprits were.
As those meetings unfolded, differences between France and Germany seemed to be widening, particularly over the question of whether the United Nations should endorse a declaration of Palestinian independence in September, as Palestinian leaders are urging.
Jolie, Kerry and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, also addressed the final session, and 155 countries endorsed a declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict.
JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israel's most honored intellectuals and artists have signed a declaration endorsing a Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders and asserting that an end to Israel's occupation "will liberate the two peoples and open the way to a lasting peace".
If signed it would be the first time the APEC forum has endorsed a political declaration.
America also promises to stiffen its backing for Israel at the UN and in particular to veto moves to endorse a Palestinian declaration of independence if the talks fizzle.
The U.S. refused in April to endorse a final declaration on Argentina's claim to the islands at the Summit of the Americas, provoking criticism from other Latin American nations.
On Wednesday night, the Western Australian town of Port Hedland announced it would endorse a Relationship Declaration Register to formally recognize the relationships of the town's same-sex couples.
The group of leftist intellectuals and artists signed the declaration endorsing a Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders and asserting that an end to Israel's occupation "will liberate the two peoples and open the way to a lasting peace".
The other stumble, just before Romney's arrival in Israel, was Senor's bombs-away declaration endorsing a pre-emptive Israeli strike against Iran; the campaign later indicated that this statement had gotten "a little ahead" of Romney's intentions.
