'Effective' UN resolution for immediate Israel withdrawal, honoring Geneva convention, or face sanctions
Palestine-Regional, Politics, 4/10/2002

The Arab Group at the UN has submitted a new resolution at Syria's initiative implying a warning to Israel from the consequences of not withdrawing back its forces from the Palestinian territories and calls for a third party to monitor the implementation of agreements between the Palestinians and the Israelis, despite the fact that the US has opposed this draft resolution.

The proposed draft resolution also includes an "article" which calls for honoring and implementing the Fourth Geneva Agreement of 1949 on the protection of civilians under occupation. Adopting this "article" paves the way before imposing sanctions on Israel in case Israel refuses the articles of the Conventions.

The Russian ambassador at the UN who presides over the current rotating presidency of the UN Security Council said that the Arab Group intends to submit the draft resolution which will be discussed in a close- door session before the debate to vote.

During the session which was held on Monday evening and lasted for more than two hours in which 20 out 40 registered speakers expressed their regret and feelings of frustration over Israel's rejection to pullout from the Palestinian territories.

The British ambassador at the UN Jeremy Greenstock said that the continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinian areas is disappointing. He said that the Israelis have to realize that the use of violence and the military force against the Palestinian civilians should be stopped.

Meantime, John Negroponte, the US ambassador at the UN Security Council expressed his country's opposition to the draft resolution, considering that there is no need for a new UN resolutions.

He said what we need is full implementation of the resolutions already taken, claiming that neither side ( the Palestinians and the Israelis) has demonstrated compliance with UN resolution 1403.

Previous Stories:
  Geneva Conventions provisions violated in Palestine   (4/9/2002)
  UN resolution 1403 calls for Israeli forces withdrawal from the Palestinian cities   (4/6/2002)
  10,000 People Demonstrate in Paris in Support for the Palestinian People   (3/25/2002)
  The European Union calls for implementing UN resolutions   (3/18/2002)
  Egypt calls on UN to condemn Jewish settlements in occupied territories   (3/16/2002)
  Full text of UN security council resolution 1397 on Palestine - Israel   (3/14/2002)
  US vetoes draft resolution on UN mission to protect Palestinian civilians   (3/29/2001)
  UN General Assembly passes four resolutions on Palestine   (12/2/2000)

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