UN Security Council calls for end to Qassam fire

In statement to press, Security Council urges Palestinians to cease rocket attacks against Israel; Palestinian envoy says statement unbalanced
Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON - The UN Security Council issued a statement to the press Wednesday calling on the Palestinians to put an end to the Qassam attacks against Israel. Despite demands by the Palestinian and South African ambassadors for a more "balanced" declaration that would condemn the Israeli operations in Gaza, the Council chose to denounce only the Palestinian fire, a decision greatly influenced by pressure from the US ambassador.

According to the statement, "The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern at the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Gaza strip and the resulting increase in violence. The members welcome the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to establish a ceasefire and expressed appreciation for the active support of the government of Egypt in this regard.

They urged all parties to join the members of the Council in supporting the call of President Abbas for an end to violence."

Sources in the UN said that the statement was endorsed by Security Council members including Qatar, Indonesia, Russia, China and South Africa.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Gillerman said in response to the statement, "This is a clear call for the Palestinians to cease fire." Gillerman described the rocket attacks as "unrestrained and brutal Hamas fire at Israel, "saying, "Israel responds just as any democracy would in order to defend its citizens. The bloodshed can stop only after a the Palestinians decide to end the Qassam fire at Israel."

Riad Mansour, the Palestinian observer to the UN, told reporters that he would have liked to see a more decisive and balanced statement, but that this may have been a first step towards a Security Council intervention in the situation in Gaza. Mansour also reiterated the Palestinian call for the UN to send a multinational force to the Strip.