UN security council: postponing debate on Palestinian issue to study pre Arab summit initiatives
Regional-Palestine, Politics, 3/1/2002

The representatives of the Arab states on Wednesday postponed submitting a draft decision concerning the situation in the Palestinian territories to the UN Security Council in order to pave the way before their governments to study new initiatives prior to the Arab summit to be held in March, following the American efforts to alienate the UN Security Council from this case.

The Yemeni ambassador to the UN Abdullah al-Ashtal told reporters "we did not give a document," noting that this matter is left for the Palestinians to carry out more consultations with members of the UN Security Council. Al-Ashatl, who is the chairman of the Arab group at the UN, added that it will be hasty that the 22 Arab states will take a united position concerning issues like the Saudi initiative which calls for Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories for a recognition from all the Arab world. Al-Ashtal continued:" it is very early to give ideas towards this very big and important position."

At the request of the Arab states, the UN Security Council held lengthy consultation on Tuesday concerning the Palestinian situation and are due to be resumed later when the Saudi speech will be delivered and the main aim is to reach a draft resolution not to be vetoed by the US.

The Syrian ambassador at the UN Mikhael Wahba said that the peace process needs a political will from the Israeli side rather than more and further initiatives. He described the acts committed by Israel against the Palestinians as war crimes, collective killing and racial cleansing.

The British ambassador at the UN Security Council Jeremy Green-stock said that if the UN security council wishes to behave effectively it has to talk unanimously. " We have all to concentrate on urging the sides to shoulder their responsibilities, to halt violence and return back to the table of negotiations."

Previous Stories:
  Four Palestinians killed, Israeli- Palestinian security meeting a failure   (2/28/2002)
  Seven Palestinians wounded, new incursion for Israeli forces in Gaza   (2/27/2002)
  Moussa, Arafat reciprocates messages   (2/20/2002)
  Arafat's price to attend the Arab summit   (2/19/2002)
  African intellectuals call for active backing to Palestinians   (2/13/2002)
  Deploring spiral of violence' in mideast, Annan urges return to talks   (2/13/2002)
  An international conference condemning Israel practices   (2/1/2002)

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

Search