U.N. Security Council praises Sharon
Special session impressed with Israel's disengagement plan, calls on Palestinian Authority to take control and prevent terror attacks
Rare sight: A special United Nations Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East saw U.N. Under Secretary for Diplomatic Affairs Ibrahim Gambari praise Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, following the disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank.
The special session was held under the Japanese presidency of the council, under the title to discuss "the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian question."
Gambari said he was pleased with developments in the region and praised IDF forces on “their sensitivity in carrying out the mission.”
Closed Doors
Speakers during the session demanded that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas act to restrain Palestinian terror groups, and Israel was told to stop construction in the West Bank.
“Abu Mazen (Abbas) must develop a security system that will guarantee that the Authority will be the only power that can use force,” said Gambari.
However, the session saw some criticism leveled at Israel, after Gambari said that in the past month, Israel had continued actively building settlements, and highlighted the new construction plans in the Muslim quarter in east Jerusalem, Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and the Jordan Valley.
He also mentioned theroute of the security fence, saying that the fence penetrated PA areas and expropriated Palestinian land.
Envoy slams monthly report
Following the session, the Security Council issued a statement welcoming the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank and noting the move could mark a first step in the continuation of the peace process.
However, despite the praise, Israeli envoy to the U.N., Danny Gillerman slammed the monthly report on the Middle East submitted to the Security Council, saying he welcomed the international support but wanted to express his disappointed over the report.
Israel took a bolder, more risky step than any other country, he said, and added the report should have presented the big picture instead of ensuring to present a "balanced" picture.
"It's time to reconsider the necessity of the monthly report on the state of the Middle East," he said.
