World News

U.S. refuses to call for end to Arafat's siege

The United States abstained on a U.N. Security Council resolution Sept. 24 demanding Israel stop its siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound.

The resolution, approved by the other council members - including Britain - after 11 hours of talks, also called on the Palestinian Authority to ensure those responsible for terrorist acts were brought to justice.

The United States has stopped similar resolutions in the past by using its veto power in the council. But diplomats said Washington decided not to do so because it did not want to anger the Arab nations before it started a campaign against Iraq.

The United States refused to vote for the new resolution because it did not name the Syrian-based Islamic Jihad and Hamas groups as responsible for recent bombings in Israel.

The resolution 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 to positions held before September 2000, the date of a Palestinian uprising that has cost more than 2,000 lives.

Israeli forces wrecked Arafat's compound in Ramallah in the West Bank on Sept. 18 after two recent suicide bombings killed seven people in Israel.

Shukan ST: Oct. 4, 2002

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