U.S. Backs Israel in Rejecting UN Monitors in Middle East

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U.S. Backs Israel in Rejecting UN Monitors in Middle East
By Bill Varner


United Nations, Aug. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and Israel told the United
Nations Security Council that they're against sending UN observers to the
Middle East, as proposed in a resolution by Islamic nations.

Twice before, in December and March, the U.S. blocked resolutions that would
have created an observer force, saying that both sides had to agree to the
idea.

``We question the appropriateness and effectiveness of any action here in New
York,'' Acting U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said. ``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 was referring to the draft resolution of the Islamic Conference,
which calls for a UN ``monitoring mechanism'' to implement the Mitchell
Report, which called for a cease-fire and steps to reduce mutual suspicion
before renewed negotiations. The Islamic resolution also calls on Israel to
withdraw from the Orient House, the unofficial headquarters of the
Palestinian Authority in East Jerusalem that Israel seized and closed.

Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry described the seizure as an ``act of
self-defense'' because it was being used to carry out terrorist attacks. He
said Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank were ``in accordance
with international law.''

Lancry said the Islamic resolution condemns Israel without calling on the
Palestinian Authority to end terrorism, and that a UN monitoring force would
not be able to stop terrorist attacks.

Israel Accused of Atrocities

Palestinian Ambassador Nasser Al-Kidwa accused Israel of atrocities and said
his government condemns violence directed at civilians. He said the violence
followed the beginning of the ``bloody military campaign'' by Israel last
September.

Samir Abu Zeid, an official of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, died
Sunday along with two of his children, while making a bomb at his home near
the Egyptian border, the Israeli army told Reuters. Palestinians said an
Israeli missile hit the house.

Israeli bulldozers today leveled two four-story Palestinian apartment blocks
and a nursery school that Israeli authorities said were being built without
permission in East Jerusalem, Agence France-Presse reported.

At the Security Council meeting today, France, China, Tunisia, Singapore and
Mauritius expressed support for the idea of sending UN troops to the Middle
East. All of the speakers said implementation of recommendations contained in
the Mitchell Report was the best means of attaining peace in the region.

As a permanent member of the Council, the U.S. has the power to veto the
Islamic resolution.