Israel: UN Showed Undiplomatic Conduct
By Edith M. Lederer
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, March 19, 2002; 8:07 PM
UNITED NATIONS –– Israel accused the United Nations of undiplomatic conduct Tuesday for leaking a confidential letter from Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and refuted its claim that Israel was failing to protect Palestinian civilians.
Israel's angry response matched Annan's angry letter and left the Jewish state's relations with the United Nations battered at a time that the world body is working to help get the peace process back on track.
"If the United Nations wishes to contribute positively to the quest for peace in the Middle East, it must endeavor to gain the trust of both sides," Israel's U.N. Mission said in an unsigned statement.
It noted that the letter was released as Israel, with the assistance of U.S. envoy Gen. Anthony Zinni, "is taking steps to ensure an end to the violence and terrorism so as to allow for the resumption of negotiations" toward a peaceful settlement.
The U.N. spokesman's office said there would be no further comment.
In Annan's March 12 letter, obtained on Monday, the secretary-general accused Sharon's government of using excessive force which has led to the death or injury of hundreds of innocent men, women and children and destroyed or damaged many buildings and homes.
Annan urged Sharon to ensure that Israel's Defense Force "uses only weapons and methods that minimize the danger to the lives and property of Palestinian civilians."
Israel's U.N. Mission called the leaking of the letter by U.N. officials "most inappropriate and contrary to basic diplomatic conduct," especially since Sharon had not yet had a chance to respond. It said Annan's failure to condemn the "deliberate campaign of Palestinian terrorism" that has targeted Israeli civilians for the last 18 months was "regrettable."
Countering Annan's main accusation, the mission said "Israeli forces continue to do their utmost to ensure that their legitimate actions against terror inflict the barest minimum of harm on the civilian population."
It noted, however, that terrorist groups in Palestinian territories routinely operate in populated areas, "using civilians as human shields in willful disregard for their safety and security."
© 2002 The Associated Press
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