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U.S. again vetoes U.N. resolution on Israeli housing
March 21, 1997
Web posted at: 9:29 p.m. EST (0229 GMT)UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- For the second time this month, the United States on Friday used its veto power to kill a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Israel to cease construction of a housing settlement in East Jerusalem.
Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the Arab-sponsored resolution. The United States cast the lone veto. Costa Rica abstained.
Vote follows suicide bombing in Tel Aviv
Friday's vote came hours after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a crowded Tel Aviv outdoor cafe, killing himself and three women. The militant Islamic group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred during the Jewish holiday of Purim.
On March 7, the United States vetoed a similar resolution calling on Israel to halt plans to construct 6,500 homes in an area of East Jerusalem known as Har Homa in Hebrew and Jabal Abu Ghneim in Arabic.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War and claims all of Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians, however, see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Council isn't best forum for debate, U.S. says
Earlier Friday, U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson said the Security Council was not the proper forum for debate on the settlement issue. He called on the parties involved to hold negotiations, instead.
But Israeli and Palestinian officials at the United Nations traded accusations over who bore responsibility for the Tel Aviv bombing.
Israeli Deputy Ambassador David Peleg said the Palestinian Authority bore the overriding blame by not "doing what it should to stop this terrorism." Peleg said although Hamas took direct responsibility for the attack, the Palestinian Authority did not do enough to discourage acts of violence against Israel.
Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinians' permanent observer at the United Nations, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of making "wild fabrications" aimed at "hiding the Israeli responsbilities behind the serious deterioration" of the region, including Friday's bombing.
Al-Kidwa added that the suicide bombing was "not in the interest of anybody in the region." But he claimed Israel's actions "in violation of international laws" were "the underlyiug cause for such a dangerous situation we are facing today."
Related stories:
- Suicide blast kills 3 in Tel Aviv - March 21, 1997
- Tel Aviv blast kills four, injures dozens - March 21, 1997
- Israelis, Palestinians clash near Bethlehem - March 20, 1997
- Court lets disputed Jerusalem home-building continue - March 19, 1997
- Netanyahu defends Jerusalem housing project - March 18, 1997
- Israelis to begin work on Jerusalem settlements - March 17, 1997
- With condolence visit to Israel, King Hussein spurs talks - March 16, 1997
- Netanyahu accuses Palestinians of creating 'crisis' - March 11, 1997
Related sites:
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- Israel Internet Terrorism Hotline
- State of Israel - Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles
- Islamic Association for Palestine
- Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The Jerusalem Post
- ArabNet
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