Wizdom
20-05-04, 15:26
Israel ignores UN and world condemnation
Thursday 20 May 2004, 10:17 Makka Time, 7:17 GMT
Israeli forces have unleashed death and destruction in Gaza
Related:
Israeli forces massacre protesters in Rafah
Israeli officals play down demolitions
Tools:
Email Article
Print Article
Send Your Feedback
Israeli forces have killed five Palestinians in Rafah as Israel threatens to continue demolitions despite a sharp rebuke from the UN Security Council.
Reacting to Wednesday's Security Council resolution that criticised it for the death and destruction in Gaza, Israel vowed to continue to do whatever it considers appropriate.
Passed overwhelmingly after a US abstention, the UN Security Council resolution had earlier condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians in the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Rafah.
It also called on Israel to halt house demolitions, which are in violation of international humanitarian law.
"Israel cannot continue to flout its authority and norms of international law with impunity," said Abd Allah Baali, Algeria's UN ambassador.
"After today's butchery, Israel would be well counselled to heed the voice of reason," Baali told the council after the vote.
US abstains
The resolution marked a significant departure for US foreign policy, which usually vetoed draft resolutions critical of long-time ally Israel.
"While we believe that Israel has the right to act to defend itself and its citizens, we do not see that its operation in Gaza in the last few days serve the purposes of peace and security," US deputy ambassador to the UN James Cunningham said.
Deputy US Ambassador to the
UN James Cunningham abstains
However, he said the United States could not back the resolution, because it did not take sufficient account of the "context of the military operation, which Israel says is aimed at stopping anti-Israeli attacks."
With the US abstaining, the resolution was passed 14-to-0.
'We will continue'
"The resolution did not call on Israel to stop its activity and did not call on Israel to stop the demolition of houses," said Dan Gaillerman, Israel's UN ambassador.
"We will continue to do what we must do to protect our citizens," he said.
The resolution came on the heels of an Israeli attack on a crowd of peaceful protesters in Gaza that left at least 15 Palestinians dead, reported Aljazeera.
"I believe the activities of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza in recent days have caused a problem and have worsened the situation"
Colin Powell,
US Secretary of State
In Washington, US President George Bush desisted from defending the Israeli attacks, but did not explicitly condemn the latest killings.
"I continue to urge restraint. It is essential that people respect innocent life in order for us to achieve peace," Bush said after a cabinet meeting.
"We will get clarification from the Israeli government," the president said.
Secretary of State Colin Powell also voiced concern, saying the latest Israeli raids in the Gaza hurt efforts to negotiate peace.
"It is a tragic incident," Powell said. "I believe the activities of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza in recent days have caused a problem and have worsened the situation and I think made it more difficult for us to move forward and get back into the peace process."
Thursday 20 May 2004, 10:17 Makka Time, 7:17 GMT
Israeli forces have unleashed death and destruction in Gaza
Related:
Israeli forces massacre protesters in Rafah
Israeli officals play down demolitions
Tools:
Email Article
Print Article
Send Your Feedback
Israeli forces have killed five Palestinians in Rafah as Israel threatens to continue demolitions despite a sharp rebuke from the UN Security Council.
Reacting to Wednesday's Security Council resolution that criticised it for the death and destruction in Gaza, Israel vowed to continue to do whatever it considers appropriate.
Passed overwhelmingly after a US abstention, the UN Security Council resolution had earlier condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians in the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Rafah.
It also called on Israel to halt house demolitions, which are in violation of international humanitarian law.
"Israel cannot continue to flout its authority and norms of international law with impunity," said Abd Allah Baali, Algeria's UN ambassador.
"After today's butchery, Israel would be well counselled to heed the voice of reason," Baali told the council after the vote.
US abstains
The resolution marked a significant departure for US foreign policy, which usually vetoed draft resolutions critical of long-time ally Israel.
"While we believe that Israel has the right to act to defend itself and its citizens, we do not see that its operation in Gaza in the last few days serve the purposes of peace and security," US deputy ambassador to the UN James Cunningham said.
Deputy US Ambassador to the
UN James Cunningham abstains
However, he said the United States could not back the resolution, because it did not take sufficient account of the "context of the military operation, which Israel says is aimed at stopping anti-Israeli attacks."
With the US abstaining, the resolution was passed 14-to-0.
'We will continue'
"The resolution did not call on Israel to stop its activity and did not call on Israel to stop the demolition of houses," said Dan Gaillerman, Israel's UN ambassador.
"We will continue to do what we must do to protect our citizens," he said.
The resolution came on the heels of an Israeli attack on a crowd of peaceful protesters in Gaza that left at least 15 Palestinians dead, reported Aljazeera.
"I believe the activities of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza in recent days have caused a problem and have worsened the situation"
Colin Powell,
US Secretary of State
In Washington, US President George Bush desisted from defending the Israeli attacks, but did not explicitly condemn the latest killings.
"I continue to urge restraint. It is essential that people respect innocent life in order for us to achieve peace," Bush said after a cabinet meeting.
"We will get clarification from the Israeli government," the president said.
Secretary of State Colin Powell also voiced concern, saying the latest Israeli raids in the Gaza hurt efforts to negotiate peace.
"It is a tragic incident," Powell said. "I believe the activities of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza in recent days have caused a problem and have worsened the situation and I think made it more difficult for us to move forward and get back into the peace process."