UN asks Israel to end siege; US silent

The United States has vetoed similar resolutions in the past, but diplomats said Washington decided against doing so in order not to alienate Arab opinion during its campaign for UN support against Iraq.

Calling the resolution flawed, US representative, James Cunningham said: ‘‘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 West Asia’’.

The text was a compromise negotiated by Britain and France, which sponsored it along with Bulgaria, Ireland and Norway.

It demands that Israel immediately cease measures in and around Ramallah, including the destruction of Palestinian civilian and security infrastructure. It also demands the expeditious withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities toward positions held prior to September 2000.

On Monday, US Ambassador, John Negroponte introduced his own resolution to counter one proposed by the Palestinians. The American proposal also harshly criticised Israel’s actions in Ramallah and would have asked for an end to Israel’s destruction of Arafat’s compound.

But Washington, in its draft, insisted that Israel withdraw from Palestinian cities consistent with its security demands and that the Syrian-based Islamic Jihad and Hamas groups be named as responsible for terrorist bombings. Syria, among others, refused both provisions.

‘‘Why these double standards?’’ representative of the Arab League, Yanya Mahmassani asked. ‘‘Why doesn’t the UN Security Council resolutions on Israel enforced the way they are on other countries?’’

Baghdad’s UN Ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, did not mention US threats against his country in his address to the council but criticised the ‘‘Zionist war machine’’ and said objections to the Palestinian draft represented the policy of might and could lead to an explosion.

Palestinian UN observer, Al-Kidwa accused Israel of defying three decades of Security Council resolutions and asked the 15-nation body to shoulder its responsibilities and ensure those were enforced. (Reuters)