UN: the situation in the Middle East is very gloomy
Regional-UN, Politics, 10/23/2004

The UN yesterday described in gloomy terms the current situation in the Middle East and called on the two Palestinian- Israeli sides of the conflict to work for the implementation of the Roadmap.

The UN under secretary general for political affairs Karen Brander Gast said in a report to the UN Security Council that "mere talking about the peace process raises the question of whether we are too far detached from reality." He added "it is also realistic that the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians can be only solved by negotiations between the two sides."

He said that along September, the Israeli military operation in Gaza resulted in killing 206 Palestinians and 13 Israelis and injuring more that 1,000 Palestinians and 62 Israelis. He indicated that since the beginning of the next Intifada in September 2000, some 3839 Palestinians and 979 Israelis were killed and 36,000 Palestinians and 6297 Israelis were injured. He said in his speech in which he monthly briefs the Security Council on that "these statistics are amazing." He questioned "should we proceed forward like this.. Is there a better way?"

Brander Gast said that the secretary general Kofi Annan will shortly establish a new group to register all damages resulting from building the Israeli wall of separation in the West Bank, at the request of the UN General Assembly. He called on the Palestinian authority to oppress "terrorism" coming from lands under its control. He added that Israel should organize its withdrawal from Gaza and the north of the West Bank in the framework of the Roadmap and coordination with the Palestinians.

Brander Gast also indicated the "cautious calm" prevailed in south Lebanon during the three past months despite the Israeli air raids and firing a missile on Israel and the assassination attempt of the Lebanese Parliamentarian Marwan Hamadeh in Beirut. He added that no progress was achieved in the question of peace between Syria and Israel despite the announcement made by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently on his readiness to negotiate.

Previous Stories:
  AL chief and Security Council statement on Syria, Lebanon   (10/21/2004)
  Addressing UN Assembly, Annan urges nations to restore respect for rule of law   (9/22/2004)
  U.S. plans to promote democracy in the united nations   (9/16/2004)
  Middle East Churches' message to UN chief to Annan   (9/13/2004)

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