DATE=10/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / Mideast (Update) (L)
NUMBER=2-267625
BYLINE=Larry Freund
DATELINE=United Nations
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council today (Saturday) approved a resolution that, without naming Israel, condemns the excessive use of force against Palestinians. The United States, which had threatened to veto an earlier version of the resolution, abstained during the Council's vote. Correspondent Larry Freund reports from U-N headquarters in New York.
TEXT: After several days of intense negotiations, the Security Council approved a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian fighting 14-to-nothing, with the United States abstaining. The resolution deplores what it calls the provocation carried out at a Jerusalem holy site, although it does not mention by name Israeli politician Ariel Sharon who visited the site. The council document condemns acts of violence, urges an end to the violence, stresses the importance of establishing a mechanism for a speedy and objective inquiry into the fighting and calls for the immediate resumption of peace negotiations.
The U-S representative to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, told reporters the United States has an extreme distaste for the resolution because it is at variance with what he called the totality of the facts.
/// HOLBROOKE ACTUALITY ///
The United States does not think this is a very good resolution, to put it mildly. Therefore we had to decide how to respond to it. We decided in the end, because of certain changes and improvements in it, that it was no longer clearly in "vetoland." We were prepared to veto it, if necessary. But in the end, taking into account all the considerations involved, we decided we would abstain, while making clear our extreme distaste for it.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Holbrooke said President Clinton was directly involved in negotiations on the resolution and was in contact by telephone with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The Palestinian observer at the United Nations expressed his appreciation for the resolution, while Israel's ambassador said it does not reflect the complexity of the situation.
The Security Council also, in a separate statement, expressed grave concern over the escalating tensions and acts of violence along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The president of the Security Council, Namibian representative Martin Andjaba, said the Council asked all parties to exercise restraint.
/// ANDJABA ACTUALITY ///
Members of the Council welcomed the decision of the Secretary-General to dispatch his special envoy to the region and to approach the leaders of all states concerned to convey the deep concern of the Council and to urge immediate steps to assure a restoration of calm.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed his alarm at the situation on the ground in the Middle East. He appealed to the parties to show the utmost restraint and rein in their forces and supporters so as to give the ongoing efforts to restore the peace process the best chance of success.
(signed)
NEB/NY/LSF/PT
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