Friday, January 25, 2008

UN fails to agree on statement against Gaza blockade

From Ynet News, 24/1/08:


American objections block Security Council agreement over compromise statement that would press Israel to lift lockdown of Strip....

...Experts of the 15-member body met behind closed doors overnight Friday to amend a draft statement submitted by the Arab League that calls on Israel to end its siege of Gaza and ensure "unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people" but makes no mention of the rocket attacks that triggered the blockade.

Only one of the 15 council members - the United States - opposes the Arab draft. A senior US envoy said Washington was unhappy with it because it fails to condemn the "terrorism" against Israel and ignores the causes of the problem.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations [Dan Gillerman] criticized the organization's humanitarian affairs chief for failing to acknowledge the suffering caused by Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel from Gaza. "...4,100 rockets ...have been launched at Israeli cities aimed at the killing of Israeli babies and children, innocents...." Gillerman told reporters....

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