Israel Left in Dark on U.N. Middle East Plan
By Benny Avni
November 30, 2007
The New York Sun 
Source: http://www.nysun.com/article/67310

UNITED NATIONS — In an unusual move, America's U.N. mission yesterday circulated a proposal to the Security Council supporting agreements reached at Annapolis between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs — before the text had been examined closely by Jerusalem, America's closest Middle Eastern ally.

After closed-door consultations among the council's 15 members, diplomats from China and the only Arab member, Qatar — and some Palestinian Arabs — expressed support for the American proposal. But while the American ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, hailed the council members' backing, his Israeli colleague, Dan Gillerman, said he knew very little about the proposed resolution.

For years, America had raised the ire of Arabs and their U.N. supporters, vetoing and otherwise preventing anti-Israeli resolutions at the Security Council. But even in cases when resolutions on the Israeli-Arab dispute passed, at times to Israel's discontent, Washington and Jerusalem officials had closely consulted on them beforehand, as did American and Israeli diplomats at the United Nations. By contrast, yesterday's council consultations took place at the same time that Mr. Gillerman carried a speech several doors down, at the General Assembly halls, commemorating the anniversary of the November 29, 1947, assembly resolution that partitioned British-held Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state.

All members of the Israeli U.N. mission were at the assembly hall, and none were present at the room adjacent to the Security Council, where interested diplomats from nonmember states usually wait to be briefed or lend their input during consultations on issues related to them. Council resolutions carry the most significant weight in international law among all U.N. decisions.

Israeli diplomats are usually highly attuned to U.N. maneuverings related to the Middle East, but on Thursday afternoon, the text of the proposed American resolution was handed out to reporters shortly after it was circulated to council members — but before it was seriously studied by top Israeli diplomats.

Among council members, there was enormous support for President Abbas and Olmert, Mr. Khalilzad said when he emerged from the council's consultations, referring to the Israeli and Palestinian Arab leaders who met in Annapolis earlier in the week. After securing agreement from almost all council members, Mr. Khalilzad said, he expected quick council action — but only after we consult with the Israelis and Palestinians.

But Israeli diplomats, who acknowledged that they were in the dark, said they hoped the American initiative would not end up as a resolution — but as a so-called council's presidential statement, which is less formal. Some Israelis are concerned that a council resolution may lead to future council action, getting the world body more involved in the process than Israel would like.

I was busy all day celebrating what was for us a very joyous day, Mr. Gillerman said, referring the 60-year old assembly resolution that, when passed at Lake Success, N.Y., in 1947, had been celebrated by Palestine's Jews, and denounced by its Arabs. But as for yesterday's proposal for council action, Mr. Gillerman added, I will be very happy to talk about a resolution or a presidential statement with Zal, but at the moment, I know very little about it.

The proposed resolution endorses the program of action that was agreed at Annapolis and calls on all states to lend their diplomatic and political support. I am happy that the council is dealing with this issue, the Qatari ambassador, Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, who represents the Arab voting bloc at the council, said. We have no problem with it, a Palestinian Arab diplomat who closely followed the council's consultations said, asking that his name not be used.