Terrorism Is Key Issue in Middle East, U.S. Says
Vetoes U.N. resolution that does not call for action against terrorist groups
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- The United States vetoed a Security Council resolution on the Middle East September 16 because the
draft did not include an "explicit condemnation of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyr's
Brigade as organizations responsible for acts of terrorism" or call for decisive action against them, U.S. Ambassador
John Negroponte said.
The Security Council action was requested by the Arab Group of States at the United Nations in response to Israel's
threat to expel Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. During negotiations, Negroponte made very clear that the
United States does not support Israel's threats against Arafat, but felt that the issue of terrorism must be dealt with
more forcefully in the draft text.
Negroponte said that the United States had signaled to the media and several Arab states, especially Syria, which was
handling the negotiations inside the council, that the U.S. would veto the resolution without the terrorism references.
But no serious effort was made to modify the text, he said.
The draft, sponsored by Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan, and Syria, received 11 votes in favor. The United Kingdom,
Bulgaria, and Germany abstained.
"While all parties have responsibilities in bringing peace to the Middle East, ending terrorism must be the highest
priority," Negroponte said after the vote.
"The resolution put forward today was flawed in that it failed to include the following three elements: a robust
condemnation of acts of terrorism; an explicit condemnation of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa
Martyr's Brigade as organizations responsible for acts of terrorism; and a call for the dismantlement of infrastructure
which supports these terror operations wherever located consistent with resolution 1373," the ambassador said.
"This resolution did not take a clear stand against the actions of these terrorist groups or call for decisive actions
against them," Negroponte said.
"Palestinian terrorism has been an obstacle to carrying out the peace process and the road map every single step of the
way and that simply has to stop if there is to be progress," the ambassador said.
The draft resolution demanded the complete cessation of all acts of violence, demanded that Israel desist from any act
of deportation and cease any threat to the safety of Arafat, expressed the council's full support for the efforts of the
Quartet [the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, working together to further the Middle
East peace process], and called for increased efforts to implement the road map.
Speaking with journalists after the vote, Negroponte called the resolution "lopsided" and said that "we think this
resolution wasn't going to add anything constructive to the advancement of peace in the Middle East."
"There is a road map for peace in the Middle East. It contains all of these elements -- the requirement for an end to
terrorist acts, the requirement for reciprocal steps to be taken by both sides. It's all in the road map. That's what we
ought to focus our attention on," the ambassador said.
Negroponte pointed out that the Quartet will be meeting in New York City the week of September 23 during the opening of
the General Assembly. "We think that's the way to go," he said.
"We have no choice but to try and go forward. There is a road map for peace. It ought to be followed," Negroponte said.
The ambassador also emphasized that the veto was in no way acceptance of Israel's position on Arafat.
"Secretary of State [Colin] Powell stated that the United States does not support either the elimination of Mr. Arafat
or his forced exile. While Mr. Arafat is part of the problem, we believe that this problem is best solved through
diplomatic isolation," Negroponte said.