DATE=10/04/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-Mideast Debate Continues (L Only)
NUMBER=2-267472
BYLINE=Breck Ardery
DATELINE=United Nations
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Israel was harshly criticized today (Wednesday) as representatives of a group of mostly Arab nations spoke in the United Nations Security Council. VOA Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.
TEXT: Non-members of the Security Council were invited to speak on the second day of a public discussion on the Mideast violence. The speakers, the majority from Arab nations, universally condemned Israel for what they described as the use of excessive force against Palestinian civilians.
The comments from Algeria's ambassador Abdallah Baali were typical. Speaking through an English interpreter, Mr. Baali said Palestinian civilians are no match for heavily armed Israeli security forces.
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The result of this obviously disproportionate confrontation is that scores of innocent people including very young children, and there was one of 10-years old in the Gaza strip just today, killed in cold blood by bullets, real bullets. All they have to fight against their assassins are their fists and their stones. It is a situation where even the ambulances bearing the flag of the Red Cross have been fired at. This is barbaric behavior which harks back to another age.
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Many speakers argued that Israel should be held accountable under the Geneva Convention for the protection of civilians in time of war. Several were critical of the U-N Security Council itself for not considering a formal resolution condemning Israeli behavior.
Despite their anger, many speakers concluded their remarks with hope that the violence will not mean the end of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/PT
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