U.S. Backs Israel
at U.N. Meeting
By DAFNA LINZER
August 20, 2001
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States backed Israel's position during a special U.N. Security Council meeting Monday on the crisis in the Middle East, saying an Arab call for council action was unworkable and one-sided.
The lack of support from the United States - a veto-wielding member of the
council - made it unlikely that the draft resolution
circulated by the Palestinians last week would go for a vote in the council.
Acting U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said the gravity of events on the ground
led the United States to ``question the appropriateness and effectiveness of any
action here in New York.''
``What is required now is not rhetoric, not debate that polarizes an already volatile situation, and certainly not an effort to condemn one side with unbalanced charges or to impose unworkable ideas that will not change the reality on the ground,'' Cunningham said.
Security Council meetings are normally reserved for the 15 council members, but at the request of Arab states Monday's session was open to any country that wished to comment on the situation. Over 40 countries, mostly Muslim states, requested to address the meeting.
Cunningham spoke after Palestinian representative Nasser al-Kidwa and Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry, who sat on opposite ends of the Security Council table exchanging blame for 11 months of bloodshed.
Since fighting broke out last September, more than 570 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and more than 150 on the Israeli side.
Last week, the Palestinians circulated a draft resolution calling for an end to the Israeli takeover of Orient House - the unofficial Palestinian headquarters in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem - an immediate cessation of violence, and the creation of ``a monitoring mechanism.''
Israel has rejected several attempts to send international observers to the region and was counting on the United States - its closest ally - to block this latest attempt. Jerusalem has said, however, that it could accept an expanded CIA role.
The United States blocked two previous attempts to send international observers to protect Palestinians, and Secretary of State Colin Powell indicated last week it would oppose a third attempt because of Israeli objections.
The Arab draft did not define the ``mechanism'' or clarify how it would differ from international observers, but says it should ``help create a better situation on the ground'' and help the parties implement recommendations from an international commission headed by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell. Those recommendations include a cooling-off period, confidence-building measures, and a resumption of peace talks.
The four other veto-wielding council members - Russia, China, France and Britain - all refrained Monday from discussing the draft resolution, which has not been formally submitted for council consideration.
Instead, each of the four voiced support for the Mitchell Commission findings and Council unity on any action. France's deputy ambassador, Yves Doutriaux, said U.S. backing was ``essential'' for any resolution.