23 September 2002
Israeli Actions "Not Helpful" to Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador Says
(Negroponte Security Council speech on Middle East violence) (860)
United Nations -- Calling its military actions in Ramallah "not
helpful," U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said September 23 that
Israel must "carefully consider the consequences of its action and
avoid further measures that escalate rather than reduce tension and
violence" in the occupied territories.
Further destruction of the Palestinian Authority's civilian and
security infrastructure "will not improve Israel's security situation;
on the contrary, it will only set back further the prospects for
implementing the reforms necessary" to improve the Palestinian's
security performance, the ambassador said.
Addressing an emergency meeting of the Security Council called after
Israeli forces entered the compound of Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat, Negroponte called on the international community to support
and encourage steps on the ground that will contribute to making
progress in the peace process.
The council is considering two drafts of a resolution, one submitted
by the Palestinian delegation and another by the United States.
Negroponte said that the United States will not support a resolution
that "fails to recognize that this conflict has two sides, that fails
to condemn the acts of terror and the groups that perpetrate them, and
that fails to call for the dismantling of the networks that threaten
all people of the Middle East -- Arab and Israeli."
Following is the text of the ambassador's remarks:
(begin text)
Statement by Ambassador John D. Negroponte, United States Permanent
Representative to the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle
East, in the Security Council, September 23, 2002
Mr. President,
Last Friday morning the Security Council members gathered in this
Chamber for a briefing by the UN Special Coordinator on the Middle
East Peace Process on the recent meeting of the Quartet at UN
Headquarters last week. Members of the Council expressed their support
for the statement issued by the Quartet on September 17. This
statement described some of the concrete, practical and
forward-looking steps Quartet members-including the Secretary General,
Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov, EU High Representative Solana and
Secretary of State Powell -- are talking with the parties to end
violence and advance political negotiations aimed at realizing
President Bush's vision of two states -- Israel and an independent,
viable and democratic Palestine -- living side by side in peace and
security. The parties and key regional Arab states also participated
in the Quartet meetings, which contributed to restoring confidence and
trust in the Middle East. The Quartet meeting coincided with what
appeared to be a terrorist bombing at a Palestinian school near Hebron
that wounded five Palestinian children. The Quartet "deplored and
condemned morally repugnant violence and terror." Palestinian
extremists reacted immediately to the Quartet's efforts with more
devastating acts of terror: Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
competed in their claims of responsibility for two suicide bombing
attacks in Israel on September 18 and 19. The second, in Tel Aviv,
killed 6 Israelis and one Scottish national on a civilian bus. 60
people were injured, many of whom were mutilated by the blast. Nearly
all Security Council Members condemned these attacks publicly and
privately within the Security Council consultations room. Most of the
governments represented in this room have also made timely statements
condemning these attacks and the groups that continue to perpetrate
them. We encourage others to join us in condemning these acts of
terror in the strongest possible terms.
The United States is intensively engaged in efforts to calm the
situation in the Middle East. Israel's recent actions in the Ramallah
Muqata's are not helpful either in achieving a lasting end to violence
or promoting vital reforms. The United States has made this clear at
the highest levels of the Israeli government. It is essential that
Israel consider carefully the consequences of its actions and avoid
further measures that escalate rather than reduce tension and
violence. The further destruction by Israel of the Palestinian
Authority's remaining civilian and security infrastructure will not
improve Israel's security situation; on the contrary, it will only set
back further the prospects for implementing the reforms necessary to
ensure real improvements in the Palestinian Authority's security
performance. It is also likely to have serious negative consequences
for political stability in the West Bank and Gaza and therefore for
the prospects of resuming the political process.
Mr. President,
The United States objectives are clear: ending terrorism, promoting
Palestinian civil reform, restoring active security cooperation,
alleviating the humanitarian situation inside Palestinian areas, and
working toward a resumption of a political dialogue that leads to a
lasting peace. Progress on these objectives is critical to restoring
trust and confidence between the two sides. A common front,
exemplified by the Quartet and those that support its efforts, can
make a real difference in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
I call on all members of the international community to support and
encourage steps on the ground that will contribute concretely and
objectively to meeting these objectives.
We will not support the adoption of a one-side text that fails to
recognize that this conflict has two sides, that fails to condemn the
acts of terror and the groups that perpetrate them, and that fails to
call for the dismantling of the networks that threaten all people of
the Middle East, Arab and Israeli.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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