-Caveat Lector- http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/breaking_news/4134958.htm
Breaking News Posted on Mon, Sep. 23, 2002 Annan calls Israeli policy bankrupt, ineffective By IRWIN ARIEFF Reuters UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Israel on Monday that its battering away at the Palestinian Authority was "a bankrupt policy" that bolstered extremists and would never end Middle East violence. Addressing an emergency session of the Security Council, called after Israel again laid siege to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's headquarters, Annan also denounced Palestinian suicide bombings as "morally repugnant" acts that ate away at hopes for a political solution in the Middle East. "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not going to be resolved by military might alone, or by violent means of any kind," Annan told the council. "A policy based on forcing the other side to capitulate is a bankrupt policy. It is not working and it will never work. It only encourages desperation. It weakens moderates and strengthens extremists." While international mediators have laid out a blueprint leading to a Palestinian state within three years as Israel's security concerns are addressed, recent suicide attacks in Israel and the fresh siege of Arafat's Ramallah compound "represent a step in the opposite direction," he said. Rather than make Israel more secure, the destruction of Palestinian civil and security structures triggered mass demonstrations in Palestinian cities and crippled the Palestinian Authority's ability to combat bombing attacks, he said. "In the end there will have to be a political settlement, negotiated between the two peoples on an equal basis," he said. "How many hundreds or thousands more have to die, how much more pain and misery must be endured, before leaders on both sides find the vision and courage to accept the inevitable?" Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry, however, blamed "Palestinian terrorist groups" for setting back peace efforts and said his country's tough military stance was the only thing standing between the suicide bombers and Israeli civilians. ISRAEL SAYS BOMBERS EAGER TO SCUTTLE PEACE Bombing attacks resumed just as Israel began to scale back its security operations in response to six weeks of relative calm, he told the council. "This is the clearest affirmation of what we have constantly asserted -- that the only thing which stands between Palestinian terrorists and their Israeli victims are the preventive actions of the Israeli military," Lancry said. "If the Palestinian leadership is unwilling to confront these demonstrated enemies of peace, then it undermines its claims to be a partner for peace," he said. Palestinian U.N. observer Nasser al-Kidwa denounced the Israeli assaults on Arafat's West Bank compound as "grave and illegal criminal acts" intended to "subjugate the entire Palestinian people" while perpetuating Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands. Accusing Israel of defying three decades of Security Council resolutions, al-Kidwa asked the council to approve another resolution - demanding that Israel withdraw from all Palestinian cities as well as Arafat's compound - and then to "shoulder its responsibilities" and ensure it is enforced. However, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte made clear that Washington, which has veto power in the council and is Israel's closest ally, opposed the Palestinian draft resolution, even as he criticized the siege of Arafat's compound as "not helpful" in ending Middle East violence. "We will not support the adoption of a one-sided text that fails to recognize that this conflict has two sides," Negroponte said. Philly.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om