Arab delegates at the United Nations are planning to call for an emergency session of the General Assembly following last night’s United States veto in the Security Council of a resolution condemning Israel for its action in Lebanon.
The U.S. late last night voted against the resolution in the Security Council which demanded “that within six hours all activities must be stopped” in Lebanon in compliance with two earlier resolutions unanimously adopted by the Security Council.
Last night’s vetoed resolution proposed that in the event of non-compliance by Israel, the Council would meet again “to consider practical ways and means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.” This phrasing means the imposition of sanctions on Israel in case of non-complain.
The proposed resolution, which was supported by the other 14 members of the Council, also condemned Israel for non-compliance with the earlier calls to stop the hostilities and reiterated its demand “that Israel withdraw all its military forces forthwith and unconditionally to the internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon.”
RESOLUTION CALLED NOT ‘BALANCED’
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Jeane Kirkpatrick, speaking after the vote, said that the U.S. vetoed the resolution because it was not “sufficiently balanced to end the cycle of violence in Lebanon.” She said that the objective of the U.S. government was to end the bloodshed in Lebanon and the proposed resolution did not provide the conditions needed for a just and lasting peace in the region. She added that the U.S. was currently engaged in all possible efforts to bring an end to the fighting in Lebanon.
Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, said in an earlier meeting of the Council yesterday that “Israel has no territorial ambitions whatsoever in Lebanon. We do not covet one square inch of Lebanon. We do not want to stay in Lebanon.” But the Israeli envoy declared that Israel was entitled to demand that permanent arrangements be made that would preclude hostile action against Israel from Lebanese soil.
Blum reiterated his government’s position of support of the territorial integrity of Lebanon and the restoration of the legitimate authority of the government of Lebanon over its territory. But, he said, Israel demands at the same time, that Lebanese territory no longer be used as a base of terrorism against Israel.
In brief remarks after last nights vote, Blum replied to Soviet charges against Israel by declaring that “no amount of bullying on the part of the Soviet Union would intimidate the people of Israel.”
The Soviet representative, Oleg Troyanovsky, sharply attacked Israel and the United States is a speech before the Council after the veto last night. He said that the U.S., veto was “a disgraceful vote” charging that the Israeli invasion into Lebanon was undertaken “with the blessing and collaboration of the United States.” He said that Israel’s aggression in Lebanon was in conjunction with the strategic cooperation agreement between the U.S. and Israel.
He described the Israeli action in Lebanon as “bandit like acts of aggression” which are meant to frighten the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Last night’s resolution was sponsored by Spain. The veto by the U.S. isolated the U.S. as Israel’s sole defender. Should the Arabs succeed in convening an emergency session of the General Assembly, they are likely to further increase the United States’ and Israel’s isolation in the world community because they can muster great majorities for their anti-Israeli resolutions in the Assembly.
The United States does not have a veto power in the General Assembly and General Assembly, resolutions are not binding.
Vice president George Bush arrived here today to meet with Secretary General Javier de Cuellar to discuss, among other topics, the escalating situation in Lebanon and ways to end the bloodshed.
Meanwhile sources here said that the Arabs will probably seek the expulsion of Israel when and if the General Assembly meets in on emergency session to discuss the Lebanese crisis.
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