UN Security Council Calls for Gaza Cease-Fire; U.S. Abstains (Update1)
By Bill Varner
Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations Security Council voted for an “immediate, durable and fully respected” cease- fire in the Gaza Strip, “leading to the full withdrawal” of Israel’s forces from the Palestinian territory.
The U.S. abstained from voting, and the resolution passed by 14 votes to 0.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. abstained out of concern the measure could hinder Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s efforts to mediate a cease-fire between the Israelis and Palestinians.
“The U.S. thought it important to see the outcome of Egyptian mediation efforts in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting,” Rice said after the vote. “That is why we chose to abstain. But after a great deal of consideration we decided that this resolution, the text of which we support, the goals of which we support, and the objectives of which we fully support should indeed be allowed to go forward.”
Israel’s Deputy Ambassador Daniel Carmon said his government would have no immediate comment on the resolution. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier today Israel would continue its military operation in the Gaza Strip because Hamas rocket assaults haven’t been halted.
Rice, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner accepted the wording on the cease-fire after meetings with Arab foreign ministers throughout the week.
Distribution of Aid
The measure calls for the unimpeded distribution of aid to Gaza, welcomes Egypt’s effort to start Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire talks, and “condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.”
A proposed reference to rocket fire by Hamas into Israel, which some council members sought, was deleted.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., European Union and Israel.
All UN members are asked in the resolution to “intensify efforts to provide arrangements and guarantees in Gaza in order to sustain a durable cease-fire and calm, including to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition.”
The final major compromise leading to the vote combined U.S., British and French desire for a text that stresses the urgency of a cease-fire and the Arab wish for a stronger call for an end to hostilities.
Rice, Miliband and Kouchner earlier abandoned their preference for a softer Security Council statement on Gaza and gave the Arab ministers a draft resolution. The Arabs had pushed for a resolution since the conflict began.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Varner at the United Nations at wvarner@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: January 8, 2009 21:55 EST |
