Jeane Kirkpatrick, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, indicated today that efforts are underway to reach a consensus statement in the Security Council on Israel’s air raid that destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor June 7.
Speaking to reporters after this morning’s session of the Council, Kirkpatrick, asked when she intended to address that body, observed that “The speech is a lot less important than finding a consensus resolution.”
Meanwhile, intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations were underway to reach a consensus statement rebuking Israel for the raid. The efforts, reportedly initiated by France, are aimed at avoiding a U.S. veto of a harsh resolution being pushed by Iraq which calls for military and economic sanctions against Israel.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed that two draft resolutions critical of Israel were in circulation today. According to the informants, the West European delegations are seeking a “mild” resolution that would condemn Israel for the air raid but avoid reference to sanctions. The other draft resolution, being developed by delegates from the non-aligned countries, supports Iraq’s call for sanctions in addition to condemning the raid. According to sources here, such a resolution was virtually certain to be vetoed by the U.S.
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