Despite a U.S. abstention, the Security Council approved a compromise resolution on the Mideast early Tuesday demanding that Israel cease actions around Yasser Arafat's West Bank compound while condemning "terrorist" attacks.
The resolution was negotiated by the European Union and based on competing proposals from the United States and the Palestinians.
Deputy U.S. ambassador James Cunningham said the resolution was "flawed in our view in that it failed to explicitly condemn the terrorist groups and those who provide them with political cover, support and safe haven in perpetuating conflict in the Middle East."
The resolution was welcomed by the Palestinians. "We welcome this decision, this is a step in the right direction but the important thing is to insist that Israeli implement it and withdraws immediately", Arafat adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.
Israel dismissed what was seen as a rare rebuke by its US ally. An official said it was to be expected, as Washington needed to obtain the largest support possible to deal with Iraq.
Earlier, U.S. and Arab delegates were deadlocked about how to condemn Israel for its siege of Yasser Arafat's compound in the West bank city of Ramallah.
Objecting to a proposed Palestinian draft, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte introduced his own resolution calling on Israel to stop destroying Palestinian structures in Ramallah and condemning Palestinian suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.
"We will not support the adoption of a one-sided text that fails to recognize that this conflict has two sides," he said.
The White House said President Bush "views what Israel is doing now as unhelpful to the cause of bringing about reform in Palestinian institutions." His criticism of Israel's attempts to isolate Arafat appeared to signal impatience with Sharon as Washington prepares for possible war with Iraq and contemplates damage his actions might cause U.S. efforts to win Arab support for the campaign.
US officials have insisted that their pro-Israeli stand in the United Nations Security Council would not damage efforts to build a consensus for a tough new resolution on Iraq. "Our colleagues on the council understand that these are two different issues," an aide to Negroponte said during a break in deliberations.
According to Reuters, the Palestinian draft, presented by council member Syria, demanded Israeli forces withdraw from Palestinian cities and expressed grave concern of Israel's reoccupation of Arafat's compound.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Israel's battering of the Palestinian Authority was a "bankrupt policy" that bolstered extremists. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
