UNITED NATIONS (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Palestinians failed to muster enough support in the U.N. Security Council on Friday for a resolution on the 11-month conflict with Israel, with members reluctant to face a threatened U.S. veto.The Palestinians withdrew their draft resolution, for the time being, and their chief U.N. delegate, Nasser al-Kidwa, said he would have to consult members in the future. (Photo)
The United States had made clear it would veto, as it did in March, the Palestinian draft, which calls for a ``monitoring mechanism'' to cool the violence (Israel's brutal response to a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory).
In an effort to work out a compromise, Britain and Norway drafted a relatively mild statement, criticizing both sides, which supporters of the Palestinians indicated was a non-starter, though this too could be revived.
Consequently, the council was deadlocked and no action was expected in the near future. ``There was no agreement to have any result,'' said Council President Alfonso Valdivieso of Colombia. ``No country has requested another meeting.''
He said there was ``no space for common ground or common positions,'' adding that the council's dispute reflected a ``very very complex conflict.''
An apparent majority of the council does not want to see the Palestinian resolution come to a vote if it means a U.S. veto. This group includes Britain, France, Russia, China, Ireland, Norway and possibly Ukraine.
In addition the seven members of the Non-Aligned Movement in the council, who usually back the Palestinians, had defectors this time. Singapore was one and even Colombia hesitated, diplomats said.
A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no veto from the council's five permanent members for adoption. The only certain support for the Palestinian resolution came from Mali, Mauritania, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Jamaica.
A statement, which carries less weight, needs the agreement of all 15 council members.
On March 27, Washington vetoed a draft resolution, which received nine votes in favor, to send U.N. observers to the West Bank. In December, the United States was spared its veto when a similar resolution obtained only eight votes.
EFFECTIVENESS OF U.N. COUNCIL QUERIED
Many Europeans would like the council to stake out a position on the Middle East crisis, fearing the 15-member body would otherwise be downgraded and lose its effectiveness on other issues, such as sanctions against Iraq.
But Israel, backed by the United States, wants no council action, fearing an internationalization of the crisis would work against them. U.S. envoy James Cunningham, however, said he was willing to negotiate on the basis of the British-Norwegian statement.
``Since it is difficult to reach consensus on a resolution I believe we should have a statement,'' China's delegate, Shen Guofang, said. ``The format is not important. The important thing is the context.''
Singapore, Shen said, had taken a similar position.
On Thursday, Cunningham, the chief U.S. representative, told reporters, ``Any resolution is a non-starter as far as we are concerned. We will oppose a resolution by whatever means we have to.''