Military

DATE=04/19/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=JENIN/U-N (L-O)

NUMBER=2-288919

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Arab diplomats at the United Nations are pressing for a Security Council vote authorizing an investigation into the Israeli attacks on the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin, despite American reservations. The Council today (Friday) continued a second day of debate on the issue. V-O-A correspondent Elaine Johanson reports:

TEXT: American ambassador John Negroponte has not ruled out some sort of inquiry into Israeli actions in Jenin. But he says Washington is not convinced, at this point, that the Security Council should have a role:

///NEGROPONTE ACT///

We certainly do not oppose finding out the facts and getting to the bottom of the situation. There are differences of view or there may be differences of view in the Council as to what mechanism and whether this should be pursued through a Security Council resolution or not.

///END ACT///

The discussion continues behind closed doors. The British have offered a compromise resolution to a more sweeping Arab one, which focuses only on the need for an investigation.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian representative has indicated he is willing to forgo any debate at this time on the Secretary-General's proposal for an international force in the Palestinian areas, which Israel has rejected. But he says the least he expects is some concern from the Security Council over Jenin and the start of an investigation.

The United Nations has deeply engaged with the current Middle East conflict for well over a month, and has adopted several resolutions already, including calls for an Israeli withdrawal.

The U-S position has been that the Security Council should take a pause. Washington fears more votes and more resolutions might be counter-productive to efforts at re-starting peace talks. (Signed)

NEB/NY/EJ/SAB