The US today vetoed the UN Security Council resolution to send a multi-national force to the territories. The force had been demanded by the Palestinians.
The veto was preceded by a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President George W. Bush, in which Sharon reiterated Israel’s opposition to international observers in the territories. “International intervention of this sort is tantamount to a prize for terrorism,” Sharon told Bush.
Nine members were in favor of dispatching multi-national troops: Russia, China, Bangladesh, Columbia, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Singapore and Tunisia. Representatives of Britain, France, Ireland and Norway abstained and the Ukraine did not take part in the vote.
Last night, the European representatives tried to find a compromise resolution to avert a US veto.
Meanwhile, the Arab summit ended in Amman without an agreement. Following fierce opposition by Saudia Arabia and Kuwait, the summit did not issue a resolution supporting Iraqi demands to remove the sanctions against it.
In contrast, the Arab summit released an announcement supporting the Palestinian cause.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 28 March, 2001