Palestine denounces american veto of UN resolution
Palestine-USA, Politics, 12/15/2001

Palestine denounced on Saturday the US veto against a resolution of the UN Security Council on the Middle East, as a move that will encourage Israel to carry on its military escalation.

"We firmly condemn the US veto as a move that will encourage Israel to carry on its military escalation against the Palestinian people," said Nabil Abu Rudeinah, advisor to Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. He went on that the veto is all the more condemnable as there was a consensus within the security council for the resolution and as this will not serve peace and stability in the region.

Twelve countries, including France, Russia and China voted for the resolution while Great Britain and Norway abstained.

Washington announced late Friday that it will veto a resolution condemning all acts of terror against Israelis and Palestinians because it politically isolates Israel and doesn't mention terrorist organizations responsible for attacks against Israelis.

This was the second veto cast by the United States this year against a Mideast resolution calling for a monitoring "mechanism" to cool the 14-month-old conflict, which Israel strongly opposes. U.S. opposition also blocked council action on two similar resolutions.

Arab nations requested the council meeting after Israel cut contacts with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and launched new military strikes against Palestinian Authority targets. This followed new attacks against Israelis, which Israel blames on the Palestinian failure to crack down on militants.

The Palestinians agreed to amend their original resolution, adding a French proposal to condemn "all acts of terror, in particular those targeting civilians."

While the US delegate reiterated the Bush administration's support for a Palestinian state, he said the resolution's aim was to throw the council's weight behind the Palestinians and "to isolate politically" the Israelis.

In an apparent reference to Israel's policy of targeted killings and destruction of Palestinian facilities, the draft resolution "condemns all acts of extra-judiciary executions, excessive use of force and wide destruction of properties." It demands "the immediate cessation of all acts of violence, provocation and destruction," a return to positions prior to September 2000 when the latest violence erupted, and "a final agreement on all issues."

It calls for immediate implementation of recommendations of an international commission headed by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, including a cooling-off period, confidence-building measures and a resumption of peace talks. The draft encourages "all concerned to establish a monitoring mechanism to help the parties implement the (Mitchell) recommendations... and to help create a better situation in the occupied Palestinian territories."

It also adds a reference to "the essential role of the Palestinian authority which remains the indispensable and legitimate party for peace and needs to be preserved fully."

Previous Stories:
  US resolved to materialize new approach on creation of palestinian state, burns   (12/12/2001)
  US envoy tours the West Bank   (11/29/2001)
  American peace team begins Middle East mission   (11/27/2001)

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