here is elise labott with more about it. >> reporter: a dispute over peace, politics and the role of the u.s. presidency may be coming to a head at the united nations. just hours before the security council was set to vote for a resolution calling for israel to stop building settlements, the ballot was abruptly cut off, averting a potential clash between the current and future u.s. presidents over u.s. relations with israel. >> we'll have to wait and see what the results of those consultations are, to see if the text moves forward. >> reporter: the resolution demands israel, quote, immediately and completely cease all settlement activities, calling it a flagrant violation under international law. cnn has learned that president obama was prepared to let the resolution pass, either by abstaining or voting in favor of it. the u.s. has traditionally seen jewish settlements in areas controlled by palestinians as an obstacle to peace process but it has never gone so far in a u.n.