The UN Security Council has declined to issue a resolution censuring the Israeli blitz on Gaza despite global calls for an end to the assault.
The draft resolution put forth by Libya, representing the 22 nations in the Arab League, was swiftly rejected in the course of an emergency session held on Wednesday, AP reported.
The US, a permanent UNSC member holding veto power, has been quick to remove the circulated draft on accounts that it was 'unbalanced' as it did not condemn the Palestinian Hamas.
The Palestinian UN observer, Riyad Mansour said that the Arab nations need to work continually to pass a mandatory resolution "that would condemn the crimes committed by Israel and stop the military aggression, and provide protection for the Palestinians and lift the siege."
"We face a very dangerous crossroads in the Middle East as a direct consequence of this Israeli aggression ... (which) is threatening the life and prosperity of 1.5 million Palestinian and also threatens to undermine the peace efforts," He added.
Washington used its veto power on Sunday to block a resolution calling for an end to the massive ongoing Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip. Following the veto, the council issues a 'non-binding' statement that calls on Israel to voluntarily bring all its military activities in the besieged region to an immediate end.
More than 399 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli attacks against Gaza on Saturday, and some 1,925 others are reported wounded.
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, at least 25 percent of Palestinians killed during Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip have been civilians.
Source: Press TV
Thursday 1 January 2009
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