 |
|
The UN assembly voted in favour of Palestinian rights |
UN
rebuke for Bush over Israel
|
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted reaffirming the right of Palestinians to sovereignty over their territories seized by Israel in 1967.
The resolution, Arab diplomats said, was meant
to be a rebuke to US President George Bush's position that Israel could not be
expected to give up all its West Bank settlements or accept the return of
Palestinian refugees. The 191-nation assembly voted 140-6, with 11
abstentions, to adopt the resolution on Thursday. The resolution also made clear that Israel
could not speak for the occupied territories at the United Nations. Vote hailed Palestinian UN Observer Nasser al-Kidwa said
the measure was of "extreme importance." It reaffirmed that Palestinian territory
occupied by Israel since 1967 was "territory under military occupation"
and that the Palestinian people "have the right to self-determination and
to exercise sovereignty on their territory." The lopsided vote also demonstrated "the
total isolation of the Israeli-American position," he said. Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman, however,
denounced the measure for failing to condemn human bomb resistance attacks
against Israel or to recognise that compromise was needed on both sides. US Deputy Ambassador James Cunningham said he
voted "no" since the text was "inappropriate and ill-timed, and
would detract from, rather than enhance," ongoing peace efforts. Bush outraged Palestinians last month when he
gave Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon letters saying Israel could not be
expected to give up all its settlements or accept the return of Palestinian
refugees.
| Agencies |