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Annan Calls on Israel to End 'Illegal Occupation'

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Annan Calls on Israel to End 'Illegal Occupation'
bhaloo
03/13/02 at 00:41:27
[slm]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020313/wl_nm/mideast_un_dc_13&printer=1


Annan Calls on Israel to End 'Illegal Occupation'

Tue Mar 12, 8:29 PM ET
By Irwin Arieff

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) appealed to Israel on Tuesday to end its "illegal occupation" of Palestinian lands and curb its attacks on civilians in his toughest criticism to date of the Jewish state.


In an emotional plea delivered at a public meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Annan said the scale of the Middle East carnage had soared to horrifying levels and urged leaders on both sides to "lead your peoples away from disaster."

In an appeal to Israel's leaders, he said: "You must end the illegal occupation" of lands captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Aides said it was the first time Annan had branded the occupation as illegal.

And he called on Israeli defense forces to stop "the bombing of civilian areas, the assassinations, the unnecessary use of lethal force, the demolitions and the daily humiliation of ordinary Palestinians."

"Such actions gravely erode Israel's standing in the international community and further fuel the fires of hatred, despair and extremism among Palestinians," Annan said.

He also urged the Palestinians to stop all acts of terror, saying they had "played their full part in the escalating cycle of violence, counter-violence and revenge."

He was "particularly disturbed" by the rise in Palestinian suicide bombings deliberately targeting civilians, he said, calling such attacks "morally repugnant."

The Palestinian U.N. representative, Nasser al-Kidwa, quickly praised Annan's statement as "the strongest, the clearest position the secretary-general has come up with" in the 18 months since the start of a Palestinian uprising that the United Nations (news - web sites) says has claimed some 1,550 lives.

OPINION DIVIDED

But in a closed meeting following Annan's statement, opinion was divided among the Security Council's 15 members.

Council diplomats said some questioned Annan's decision to refer to the occupation as illegal, speculating he had hardened his stance after Israeli soldiers last week shot and killed a Palestinian U.N. guard riding inside a U.N. Relief and Works Agency ambulance.

Syria's envoy expressed anger that Annan had appeared to equate Israeli and Palestinian actions, the envoys said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Arab nations, on the Palestinians' behalf, asked the council to quickly adopt a resolution demanding that Israel stop all acts of violence and calling on both sides to resume negotiations and "implement all of their obligations" under previously reached agreements and peace plans.

But the United States, in a surprise move, countered with its own draft late in the day urging the immediate cessation of all violence without mentioning either side by name.

The U.S. draft also urged both sides to work together toward a cease-fire, with the aim of resuming peace talks.

One council diplomat said the U.S. move had "totally disarmed" Arab states, leaving the other council members eager to try to iron out differences between the two drafts.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has in the past often used the threat of its veto to block council action on resolutions backed by Arab nations.

Washington, which argues peace efforts must come from the two sides, has announced plans to send its Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni back to the region this week to press for a cease-fire.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Yehuda Lancry played down the significance of Annan's demand that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories, saying Israel had already agreed to do so in principle in 1993.

"Even Prime Minister (Ariel) Sharon envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian state," he told reporters, saying this would be subject to negotiations.



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