Security Council to meet with both sides in Middle East crisis
8 November -- Following a request from Israeli and Palestinian authorities to meet with the United Nations Security Council, the UN body today agreed to hold a meeting with both sides this Friday morning in New York.
Speaking to reporters after closed consultations on the Middle East situation, Council President Peter van Walsum from the Netherlands, which holds the body's rotating presidency for the month of November, said the Council was "shifting around" its programme of work to accommodate the request.
"Members of the Council welcome this opportunity," he said, noting that the meeting would involve Yasser Arafat on the Palestinian side, and a representative from Israel. "I don't specify who on that side [will attend]," he said.
During this morning's session, the Council also discussed the Palestinian proposal for a protection force for Palestinian civilians, as well as the implementation of the understandings reached at last month's Sharm el-Sheikh Summit held in Egypt, in particular the establishment of a committee of fact-finding, Ambassador van Walsum said.
Under the Sharm el-Sheikh agreements, such a committee was to be set up to inquire into recent events and consider how to prevent their recurrence. The news that United States President Bill Clinton had decided to appoint such a committee was welcomed yesterday by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
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