Post by Salem6 on Oct 15, 2003 7:58:37 GMT
The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel's controversial West Bank barrier.
The draft, introduced by Arab states, declared that the structure was illegal under international law and that construction must be halted.
Israel says the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from attacks by Palestinian gunmen and suicide bombers.
But Palestinians argue that it is encroaching on more Palestinian land and making a number of Israeli settlements in the border areas permanent.
Other international mediators had been urging Israel to end construction of the fence.
But the US - Israel's closest ally - had been less than vocal on the issue.
President George Bush had merely called the barrier a "problem".
Harsh words
The BBC's Greg Barrow at UN headquarters in New York says the Americans felt unable to support a resolution which they viewed as one-sided in its criticism of Israel.
Israel’s Security barrier:
245 km (150-mile) long
3m high
150 km built so far
US diplomats have argued that any resolution on the Middle East has to include a robust condemnation of the activities of Palestinian militant groups.
The vote came at the end of a day-long, bitter debate, with Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman clashing with Palestinian observer Nasser al-Kidwa.
"The establishment of the expansionist conquest wall by the occupying power (...) is a crime of the same magnitude as a crime against humanity," Mr al-Kidwa said.
Mr Gillerman retorted: "No lie is so bold and audacious as the one which pretends that Israel's actions occur in a vacuum and are not in response to years and years of terrorism."
Most of the countries taking part in the debate criticised the construction of the barrier, saying it will inflame tensions.
Angola, Chile, China, France, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Spain and Syria voted in favour of the resolution.
Bulgaria, Cameroon, Germany and Britain abstained. The US was the only one vote against the draft.
The structure[/u]
Israel is building a 245km fence in the West Bank.
It says the structure is for security, but opponents fear it is an attempt to define borders.
Most of the barrier is wire fence at least 3m high, reinforced with a ditch and coils of razor wire.
A few sections considered high-risk have been built from concrete blocks.
The route[/u]
The first phase of the fence was completed in July 2003, with a second section to be built in the north by the end of the year.
The Israeli defence ministry says no further routes have been decided, although alternatives have been identified.
Palestinian organisations have drawn detailed maps of extensions which they believe are planned.
Qalqilya hotspot[/u]
The impact of the fence has been felt most acutely in the town of Qalqilya. Lying in tight loop in the barrier, the town is cut off on three sides. Access is through a single checkpoint.
A UN report has condemned the barrier as illegal. It says about 210,000 Palestinians would be cut off from social services, schools and places of work.
The draft, introduced by Arab states, declared that the structure was illegal under international law and that construction must be halted.
Israel says the barrier is necessary to protect Israeli civilians from attacks by Palestinian gunmen and suicide bombers.
But Palestinians argue that it is encroaching on more Palestinian land and making a number of Israeli settlements in the border areas permanent.
Other international mediators had been urging Israel to end construction of the fence.
But the US - Israel's closest ally - had been less than vocal on the issue.
President George Bush had merely called the barrier a "problem".
Harsh words
The BBC's Greg Barrow at UN headquarters in New York says the Americans felt unable to support a resolution which they viewed as one-sided in its criticism of Israel.
Israel’s Security barrier:
245 km (150-mile) long
3m high
150 km built so far
US diplomats have argued that any resolution on the Middle East has to include a robust condemnation of the activities of Palestinian militant groups.
The vote came at the end of a day-long, bitter debate, with Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman clashing with Palestinian observer Nasser al-Kidwa.
"The establishment of the expansionist conquest wall by the occupying power (...) is a crime of the same magnitude as a crime against humanity," Mr al-Kidwa said.
Mr Gillerman retorted: "No lie is so bold and audacious as the one which pretends that Israel's actions occur in a vacuum and are not in response to years and years of terrorism."
Most of the countries taking part in the debate criticised the construction of the barrier, saying it will inflame tensions.
Angola, Chile, China, France, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Spain and Syria voted in favour of the resolution.
Bulgaria, Cameroon, Germany and Britain abstained. The US was the only one vote against the draft.
The structure[/u]
Israel is building a 245km fence in the West Bank.
It says the structure is for security, but opponents fear it is an attempt to define borders.
Most of the barrier is wire fence at least 3m high, reinforced with a ditch and coils of razor wire.
A few sections considered high-risk have been built from concrete blocks.
The route[/u]
The first phase of the fence was completed in July 2003, with a second section to be built in the north by the end of the year.
The Israeli defence ministry says no further routes have been decided, although alternatives have been identified.
Palestinian organisations have drawn detailed maps of extensions which they believe are planned.
Qalqilya hotspot[/u]
The impact of the fence has been felt most acutely in the town of Qalqilya. Lying in tight loop in the barrier, the town is cut off on three sides. Access is through a single checkpoint.
A UN report has condemned the barrier as illegal. It says about 210,000 Palestinians would be cut off from social services, schools and places of work.