Military

DATE=10/17/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268056

TITLE=U-N/MIDEAST VIOLENCE (L-O)

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An emergency session of the U-N Human Rights Commission has opened in Geneva with calls for an international inquiry into the Israeli-Palestinian clashes in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva.

TEXT: The Tunisian Ambassador set the tone of the meeting. Representing the Arab and Muslim members of the commission, Hatem Ben Salem accused the Israeli army of inhuman aggression against unarmed Palestinian civilians. Speaking through an interpreter, the ambassador said the Israelis were violating international law and human rights.

/// BEN SALEM ACT ///

This is just a new spiral of the barbaric escalation of unacceptable violations and methods adopted by Israel within a framework of a deliberate repression policy against an unarmed people, struggling to defend their legitimate rights and their land.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Ben Salem said the Arab countries want the top U-N human-rights official, Mary Robinson, and other U-N human-rights experts to travel to the Palestinian territories to investigate Israel's actions.

Ms. Robinson, in her remarks to the commission, deplored the recent violence and expressed her regret for the deaths of more than 100 people, mainly Palestinians. She told delegates that the violence must stop so that the peace process can continue.

/// ROBINSON ACT ///

It is very much my hope that the deliberations of the commission and the outcome of this special session will have in view the imperative of bringing about a just and lasting peace by addressing human rights issues.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Robinson also suggested that an objective, independent inquiry into the events of the past weeks may help resolve issues which remain in dispute.

The Israeli ambassador (to the U-N in Geneva), Yaakov Levy, told the commission he could not think of a worse time for the special session to take place. He said that anything that could inflame the situation could be counterproductive to peace efforts. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/KL/RAE