New York - The United States pitched a plan on Tuesday for a
comprehensive solution to end the Israel-Hamas conflict by engaging
the warring parties to abide by a durable and sustainable ceasefire.
The plan would reopen crossings into the Gaza Strip and end all
weapons smuggling by Hamas.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the UN Security
Council in New York that a durable ceasefire would return 'true calm'
between the two sides and end Hamas' firing of missiles into Israel.
Rice disclosed that Israeli leaders had agreed to open a corridor
on Wednesday to allow imports of humanitarian supplies to the
besieged Palestinians in Gaza.
'It should be a solution this time that does not allow Hamas to
use Gaza as a launching pad against Israeli cities,' Rice said. 'It
has to be a solution that does not allow the re-armament of Hamas,
and it must be a solution that finds a way to open the crossings so
Palestinians in Gaza can have a normal life.'
Rice called for re-establishing the legitimate rule of the
Palestinian Authority over Gaza and establish the normal operations
of 'all crossings.'
She said that the United States supports the declaration by the
Arab League and Egypt, in particular, demanding the reopening of the
crossings.
'The international community should adopt an intensive
reconstructive initiative with a donor conference that will
complement efforts by the PA in Gaza,' she said. 'There should be an
effort to reconstruct Gaza.'
The 15-nation Security Council convened the emergency session late
Tuesday to hear envoys from 25 countries, including 14 foreign
ministers, on the crisis in Gaza. The conflict since December 27 has
killed hundreds and left more than 2,000 people wounded.
The urgent nature of the meeting was palpable as high-ranking
officials from Arab countries, and the Arab League held closed-door
talks at UN headquarters in New York to work out a resolution to the
11-days-old fighting.
The Arab diplomats had made their demands known in various
meetings held by the Arab League in Cairo and during meetings Monday
in New York.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his demand for an
immediate and durable ceasefire as casualties were mounting,
aggravated by the deaths of at least 46 Palestinians when the Israeli
army shelled a UN-run school in Gaza.
Ban announced that he will be in the Middle East next week,
visiting Israel, the Palestinian territories and several Arab
capitals. The week-long trip through the Middle East will help him
gain first-hand information on the Gaza crisis.
Ban asked the Security Council to work out a resolution before he
embarks for the Middle East.
He denounced both Israel and Hamas amid mounting civilian
casualties following the shelling of three UN-run schools Tuesday in
Gaza. Israel alleged that Hamas militants were firing from the
schools.
'I am deeply dismayed that despite these repeated efforts, today's
tragedies have ensued,' Ban said. 'These attacks by Israeli military
forces, which endanger UN facilities acting as places of refuge, are
totally unacceptable and must not be repeated.'
'Equally unacceptable are any actions by militants, which endanger
the Palestinian civilian population,' he said. 'Today's events
underscore the dangers inherent in the continuation and escalation of
this conflict.'
In his address to the Security Council following his visit to the
White House to meet with US President George W Bush, Ban repeated his
calls for an 'immediate ceasefire, durable and respected fully by all
sides. Immediate humanitarian measures, including open crossings for
humanitarian assistance, should be ensured.'
He called for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank 'within
the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority.' The Islamic
militant movement Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from the
Palestinian Authority, which still rules the West Bank.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said: 'There is an
urgent need to find a firm foundation upon which a holistic
settlement can end this destructive conflict.'
Abbas rejected any resolution that maintains the separation of
Gaza from the West Bank.
The Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, told the
Security Council that Israelis have been traumatized by the constant
fire of rockets and mortars by Hamas into southern Israel. She said
that the Iranian-made missiles were putting the lives of 1 million
Israelis at risk.
'We have to defend ourselves, not against the Palestinians but
against the terrorists who have taken them hostages,' Shalev said.
She said every life lost, whether Israeli or Palestinian, is a
'tragedy.'
Despite the high-level participation in the meeting in New York,
the Security Council did not yet have a draft resolution reflecting
the demands made by Ban and Arab governments. A draft worked out by
Arab diplomats last week was rejected by the United States, which
branded it one-sided because it singled out and condemned only Israel
for the conflict.
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