US vetoes draft resolution on UN mission to protect Palestinian civilians
Palestine-USA, Politics, 3/29/2001

The United States vetoed on Wednesday a UN Security Council draft resolution proposing the deployment of an international observer force to protect Palestinian civilians.

By virtue of the draft, which received nine votes in favor, one against (United States) and four abstentions (France, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom), the council was requesting the Secretary-General to consult the parties - Israel and the Palestinians - on immediate steps to implement the resolution.

Before introducing the text, Council President Volodymyr Yel'chenko (Ukraine), said his country would not take part in the vote. Under the project, the Council would have expressed its full support for the work of the fact-finding committee established at Sharm el-Sheikh and would have called upon all parties to cooperate fully with it, and to resume contacts on implementation of reciprocal security commitments.

The Council would also have called for an end to the closures of the occupied Palestinian territories; full cessation of settlement activities; the transfer by Israel to the Palestinian Authority of all due revenues; and the institution of additional confidence-building measures, including unequivocal public statements supporting all commitments made at Sharm el-Sheikh.

Palestinian observer said that the meeting's negative result meant that the Council had been prevented from following through with its duties in maintaining international peace and security. Palestine had made every possible effort to arrive at a positive conclusion, even at the expense of its own position. Ultimately, it could not give up the legitimate needs of the Palestinian people, including the need for international protection, especially since no alternative text had been tabled. Palestine would be present at a later date to see what could be done in cooperation with the Council members who were ready to work for peace, justice and legitimacy.

Previous Stories:
  US vetoes resolution to protect the Palestinians   (3/28/2001)
  Powell's tongue's slip on status of Jerusalem clarified   (3/16/2001)
  Powell refuses Israeli, Palestinian requests   (2/27/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search