March 16, 2001
The United States will probably veto any United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the dispatch of international observers to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's U.N. ambassador said Friday.
The Palestinian Authority under President Yassir Arafat has called for international observers to protect Palestinians from Israeli forces as the Palestinian-led intifada (uprising) continues with daily violence and deaths. More than 400 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed since the uprising began at the end of September. Thousands have been injured.
Last year, Palestinians and Arab groups failed to muster enough votes in the 15-nation council to adopt a resolution establishing a 2,000-member observer force. Palestinian U.N. envoy Nasser al-Kidwa is pushing again for the adoption of another resolution, which he said he hoped would be taken up by the council next week.
Israel however rejects U.N. intervention, saying the presence of international observers would exacerbate the tense situation there. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Yehuda Lancry told Israel Army Radio Friday morning that the U.S. supported Israel's position on the matter.
Thursday's council debate was urged by the Palestinians and Arab countries, which intended to submit a draft resolution to dispatch the observers. Close to 40 countries were to speak on the violence in the Palestinian territories, but no action by the council was expected this week.
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