UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council hit deadlock Monday on a statement on the Gaza conflict with the United States saying it opposes any action that undermines efforts to reach a ceasefire.
But Russia warned that unless an Arab-proposed statement calling for Israel-Hamas hostilities to end was agreed by Tuesday morning it would press for a vote on the full council resolution -- setting up a potential veto clash with the United States.
The United States, Britain, France and Germany all had problems with a text proposed by Arab nations last Thursday because it made no mention of rocket fire from Palestinian militants in Gaza, diplomats said.
All the western nations have said that Israel has the right to defend itself, while the Europeans have urged restraint on the Israeli government in its latest offensive on Gaza which has now left more than 100 dead.
Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, highlighted the growing frustration of the Palestinian Authority and its allies as the fighting intensifies and the council says nothing.
The Security Council cannot "remain on the margin," he told reporters. He said it was now urgent for the "the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and stop this aggression against our people."
US ambassador Susan Rice said there had to be an agreed ceasefire between the Israelis and Hamas for any halt in violence to be "meaningful or sustainable."
"The United States and countries in the region are working energetically through all diplomatic channels to try to negotiate an end to the violence, a de-escalation," Rice told reporters after the talks.
She said President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been on the telephone with Middle East leaders "throughout the day."
It was "vitally important" that any Security Council action "is reinforcing the prospects for an agreed cessation and not doing anything that could undermine that prospect or run counter to it. That is our principal objective in these discussions and we will continue to pursue that aim," she added.
The US ambassador would seek instructions from the US administration on the Arab text during the night, but she commented: Again we will judge the draft as to whether it advances the goal of supporting an agreed cessation."
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the Arab proposal, made through Morocco, is "a very good text".
"If the statement is not adopted at 9:00 am (1400 GMT) tomorrow morning we will go for a vote of our draft" on Wednesday afternoon.
Several diplomats said they expected objections to the draft text to be made by at least three Security Council members.
The Russian resolution would call for a cessation of violence, support for Egyptian-led efforts to secure a ceasefire and encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume their frozen talks, according to a copy obtained by AFP.
If the Russian resolution was put to a vote it would probably be vetoed by the United States, which systematically blocks resolutions seen to be critical of Israel.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Mr Kumar it might be numbers for you but rockets didnt kill any people excluding 3 israelis who died because even after their iron dome warning they took a lot of time to come out of their flat. Israeli airforce massacred people. I know more then 100 people have perished due to IDF crimes. Shame on them who dont condemn these atrocities
It is the height of hypocrisy. I don't understand how could people be so hypocrite. UN resolution won't condemn rocket attack which is the source of the current debacle.
The world has changed my friend! It would be really difficult for Israelis now to dictate their terms as frankly the importance of pivotal vote-bank in US of Jewish people have declined as latin, chinese and people of other races have increased in numbers in USA relieving some pressure for the administration as Obama this time before election didn't went to their infamous AIPAC while as already the admin is pushing for Israeli settlement freeze terming them illegal plus also former US backed govts in middle east like former Egyptian and Tunisian administrations like of Hosni Mubarak and others are no more as democracy is there in these countries and for there new leaders will of people counts which is totally hostile towards Israelis. If the Israelis wanna live in peace in middle east they will be forced to take their hawkish position back otherwise i doubt this region will see peace otherwise. It is the Israelis attitude that have given rise to much hate which has brought about islamist govts in egypt, tunisia and even turkey. Pressure is there on Israel and US to find a amicable solution leading to forming of Palestine as a nation. I see light at the end of tunnel finally plus Palestinian issue getting resolved inshaallah soon and ending much needed slogan fuel to our radicals.
The UN is being slowly killed like the bull by the matador. UN is losing its relevance like its predecessor League of Nations.
The UN Security Council is the biggest stumble block in the arrangement of international justice. Security Council and UN are anti thesis of each other cannot function mutually. One of them has to perish.
not surprised since US has so much Israeli influence in their government & foreign policy.