Arab states push for cease-fire resolution as UN discusses Gaza violence 

January 1, 2009
Haaretz
Original Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051841.html

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday discussed the violence in Gaza, with Arab countries pushing for a resolution to demand an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants. 

Libya, the only Arab country on the 15-nation council, presented a draft resolution but both Arab and Western diplomats said they doubted any vote would be held on Wednesday and would probably come in the next few days. 	



But the language of the resolution, obtained by Reuters, appeared unacceptable in its present form to the veto-holding United States and other Western countries, diplomats said. 

The Arab-drafted resolution called for an immediate ceasefire and for its full respect by both sides. It also demanded protection for Palestinian civilians, opening of border crossings into Gaza and restoration of calm in full. 

It denounced the excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israel but its only mention of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on Israel was a vague reference to the deterioration of the situation in southern Israel. 

It's going to need a lot of work, one Western diplomat said of the resolution. 

On Sunday the council had issued a statement, which lacks the weight of a resolution, calling for a halt to the violence in Gaza but the United States says any ceasefire must be durable and binding on the Hamas Islamists who control Gaza, as well as on Israel. 

Israel, which began air strikes on Gaza on Saturday to try to stamp out the Palestinian rocket fire, on Wednesday rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire. 

Following a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on Wednesday, an Arab ministerial delegation is expected to arrive in New York in the next few days to press the Arab case on Gaza at the United Nations, diplomats said. 

British Ambassador John Sawers told reporters he believed a balanced resolution would have a good chance of support in the council. 

But Israeli Ambassador Gabriela Shalev and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the best approach was to reach an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians to end the fighting and then enshrine it in a resolution, rather than the council trying to impose a ceasefire. 

Israel cannot, and will not, allow its citizens to be sitting ducks for terrorist attacks, she said. Israel will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens and stop terrorism. 

She said any resolution must be balanced and ensure that the violence by Hamas ends. 

Khalilzad said the United States is working very hard to achieve an immediate cease-fire implemented by both sides - but he said Washington has not seen any evidence yet that Hamas is willing to end its rocket attacks. 

The best way to move forward, he said, would be to get an agreement among the parties for a cease-fire and humanitarian access to Gaza through diplomacy, and for that agreement to be enshrined in a Security Council resolution if necessary. 

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, said Arab nations would be working day and night to get council approval of a binding resolution that would condemn the crimes committed by Israel and stop the military aggression, and provide protection for the Palestinians and lift the siege. 

We face a very dangerous crossroads in the Middle East as a direct consequence of this Israeli aggression... [which] is threatening the life and prosperity of 1.5 million Palestinian and also threatens to undermine the peace efforts, he said.