Military

DATE=3/29/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L UPDATE)

TITLE=U-N / MIDEAST (L UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-288151

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

INTRO: The U-N Security Council met in emergency session late into the night Friday to debate what to do about Israeli-Palestinian violence, which has escalated to new levels on the West Bank and inside Israel. Jenny Badner reports from New York.

TEXT: During the emergency session, held at the request of Arab delegates, the 15-member Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to the two-week old resolution 1397. The resolution calls for two States, Israel and Palestine living side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.

The council members said that as the situation in the Middle East deteriorates, the principles of the U-S drafted initiative become even more important. Many of the comments were even-handed, condemning both terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and calling on Israel to immediately end its military assault on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's West Bank compound.

Arab states called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities, along with a cessation of violence. U-S Envoy James Cunningham told the Council that it is terrorism that has destroyed hopes for peace.

Norwegian Ambassador and Council President Ole Peter Kolby called for the resumption of immediate dialogue and implementation of past agreements.

/ / / KOLBY ACT / / /

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders seem today locked in a battle with no exit strategies. This is untenable. The final responsibilities to end

the hostilities remain with the parties themselves. At the same time, the Security Council must assist the parties in reaching this goal building on the adoption of Security Council resolution 1397.

/ / / END ACT / / /

In their remarks to the Council, Palestinian and Israeli delegates blamed each other for the escalation of violence. The Palestinian delegate Nasser Al-Kidwa said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had taken what he called "new and insane steps." He warned of grave consequences if Israel harms Mr. Arafat.

And Israel's Ambassador to the U-N Yehuda Lankry said that Israel had, in his words "no intention of occupying Palestinian territory." Rather,

its military operation aims at uprooting terrorist networks.

U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan opened the debate, and asked the Security Council to consider how the international community can help bring peace to the troubled region. [SIGNED]

NEB/NYC/JB/PT/KBK