New York, Jan 08: The UN Security Council
failed to take any action to stem the escalating crisis in
Gaza, with Arabs and Western powers advocating different
courses despite intensive discussions.
The United States threw its weight behind the
Egyptian-French ceasefire initiative though its diplomats said
that there are some points on which they had reservations.
The initiative calls for immediate ceasefire, end to
rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and smuggling of weapons
from Egypt to Gaza through underground tunnels, besides
opening of all border crossings by Israel to allow unhindered
supply of humanitarian aid.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who extended her
stay here for further discussions with Arab foreign ministers,
spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livini on telephone to press Tel Aviv to agree
on the Egyptian initiative and also discussed the situation on
the ground.
But the discussions, heated at times, could not close the
gap between Arabs who want the 15-member Council to adopt a
binding resolution calling for immediate ceasefire and asking
Israeli to withdraw troops and the western powers which would
like to settle on a non-binding and much weaker statement.
The statement being pushed by the US, Britain and France
stresses the need for "immediate and durable" ceasefire and
expresses "grave concern at deepening humanitarian crisis" in
Gaza.
It backs the Egyptian-French initiative and calls for
immediate and full humanitarian access.
Arab foreign ministers expressed frustration and
disappointment over the Council's inaction as hundreds were
being killed and wounded, a large number of them civilians, in
the Israeli military action.
But there was also hint that they might agree to the
statement if Israel accepts the Egyptian-French initiative.
Israel has accepted the Egyptian plan in "principle" but
says more work needs to be done on it and Hamas reaction was
also unclear as it has neither rejected nor accepted the
initiative. Cairo has offered to host separate talks with
Israelis and Hamas in an effort to end the offensive, now in
13th day.
It is also seeking to bring all Palestinian factions
together so that Israeli-Palestinian dialogue could find a
permanent solution.
Israel had launched the military action with the avowed
aim of degrading the ability of Hamas to fire rockets into
southern part of the country.
US diplomats, including Rice, were speaking to Arabs to
talk them out of pressing the Libyan resolution, which they
consider "one-sided" and anti-Israel and instead agree on an
alternative statement.
It was unclear when the Council will hold a meeting to
either vote on the resolution or just issue a presidential
statement.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband as also Rice
saw hope in the three hour ceasefire yesterday which allowed
people to buy essential commodities, take wounded to hospitals
and bury the dead.
The pause in violence is need to be
repeated again and again, Rice remarked. But Arabs as also UN officials asked if the pause can be
for three hours, why not for 24 hours or even permanent.
After day-long back to back meetings, Ambassador
Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which holds the rotating
presidency for this month, said there was no unanimity on
either of the texts.
They have decided to continue their closed door
consultations as they want a unanimous approach, he added.
The current Libyan draft resolution is not acceptable to
the western powers as it does not mention Hamas or smuggling
of weapons from Egypt into Gaza by Hamas which they consider
to be a terrorist organisation.
The Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has made it
clear that the 22-member League does not want a statement but
action through a resolution which will call for immediate
ceasefire and has the backing of the world community through
the Council.
But it was not clear whether Arabs would risk a certain
US veto.
Bureau Report