US veto UN resolution on Israeli assassination

THE US has been harshly criticised for scuppering a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin, calling the measure “one-sided” and saying it ignored the group’s bloody record of terrorism.

Critics said Thursday night’s US veto condoned Israel’s policy of assassinating militant leaders.

The US had demanded that the resolution on Yassin’s killing include a mention of attacks by Hamas and other militant groups.

Algeria, the resolution’s sponsor, had resisted identifying the groups by name or citing specific attacks.

“This security council does nothing to contribute to a peaceful settlement when it condemns one party’s actions and turns a blind eye to everything else occurring in the region,” US Ambassador John Negroponte said before the vote. 11 Security Council members who voted for the measure yesterday - China, Russia, France, The Philippines, Angola, Chile, Pakistan, Spain, Algeria, Benin and Brazil, while Britain, Germany and Romania abstained.

Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas, was killed in a missile strike on Monday in the Gaza Strip. He is the highest-ranking militant to die in a series of Israeli assassinations.

Hamas has claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings and shootings of Israelis during three and a half years of violence. Israel says it is weakening Hamas by targeting its leaders, but critics say killing suspects without arresting or trying them breaks international law and breeds resentment among Palestinians.

Palestinian representative to the UN Nasser al Kidwa expressed disappointment.

“This indeed will not contribute to calming the situation nor not to moving towards moderation or dialogue in the region,” he added.

“Israeli policies are not part of the battle against international terrorism; it’s part of the problem of creating terrorism.”

Negroponte said the US could not support the resolution because it failed to mention recent attacks by Hamas, including a suicide bombing in Ashdod that killed 10 Israelis last week. The document also limited its condemnation to violence in the Palestinian territories, omitting attacks in Israel.

On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva voted 31-2 to condemn Israel for Yassin’s death, but the body has no power to punish countries. A resolution by the security council would have carried more international weight.

The Council’s failure was criticised by Palestinian and Algerian delegates as well as Russia and Indonesia.

The Algerian delegation said it might now take the resolution to the full 191-nation UN General Assembly. That body overwhelmingly sides with the Palestinians in such issues, but lacks the prestige of the security council.

* Recent US Vetoes On Israel

Oct 2003: Draft resolution seeking to bar Israel from extending security barrier

Sept 2003: Draft resolution against Israeli threats to “remove” Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat

Dec 2002: Draft resolution condemning the killing of UN employees in the West Bank

Mar 2001: Draft resolution to set up UN force to protect Palestinian civilians