UN Demands Israel Scrap Barrier

6 opposed = The US + four client states of the US + Australia (all part 
of the Coalition of the Willing (tm)).

David


http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/072104X.shtml

UN Demands Israel Scrap Barrier
BBC News

Tuesday 20 July 2004

     The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that 
Israel comply with a world court ruling to dismantle its West Bank barrier.

     The vote was passed with 150 in favour, 6 opposed and 10 abstentions.

     All EU countries voted in support after agreeing changes to the 
text with Arab states, but the US opposed it.

     The resolution, which is non-binding, was drafted after the 
International Court of Justice ruled the barrier illegally cut into 
Palestinian land.

     'Perversion of justice'
     The 191-nation General Assembly has no power to force countries to 
act on its recommendations, but the issue could then go to the Security 
Council which theoretically has the power to impose economic sanctions.

     However, the US has spoken out against the ICJ's advisory ruling 
and the new resolution, and wields a veto in the Security Council.

     BBC UN correspondent Susannah Price says the resolution is an 
attempt to put moral pressure on Israel.

     Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman described it as a " target=_blank

     "It is simply outrageous to respond with such vigour to a measure 
that saves lives and responds with such casual indifference and apathy 
to the ongoing campaign of Palestinian terrorism that takes lives," he said.

     But Palestinian representative Nasser al-Kidwa said it was time for 
Israel to comply - and for "additional measures" at a later stage, if it 
does not.

     The Palestinian Authority has said it will delay pushing for a 
Security Council resolution until after the US presidential elections in 
November.

     Barrier
     Israel has insisted it needs the barrier to stop Palestinian 
suicide bombers.

     Opponents say the barrier, which juts into the West Bank, is a ploy 
to seize land and complicates moves to create a Palestinian state.

     Israel says it will comply with an Israeli Supreme Court ruling 
ordering the 640 km (400 mile) barrier to be re-routed around Jerusalem, 
but has vowed to continue to press on with construction.

     US Deputy Ambassador James Cunningham said that the resolution was 
unbalanced.

     "The United States remains convinced that the focus must remain on 
President Bush's vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side 
by side," he said.

     Israel, Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau also 
opposed the resolution.

     In a statement, the European Union underlined that Israel had the 
right to self-defence and that it was troubled by some sections of the 
world court ruling, which is also non-binding.

_______________________________________________
heads mailing list
[email protected]
http://ballistichelmet.org/mailman/listinfo/heads/
http://ballistichelmet.org/donate/