By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States joined other U.N. Security Council members early on Saturday in adopting a resolution calling for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities.
The resolution was approved by a vote of 14 to 0, with Syria not attending the meeting in protest and leaving its seat empty, a rarity in the council. It had submitted its own resolution against Israel.
The U.S. vote represents a change of position from Friday's comments by Secretary of State Colin Powell, who expressed sympathy with Israel's decision to respond militarily after a series of attacks on Israeli civilians.
The resolution, proposed by Security Council President Ole Peter Kolby of Norway, was negotiated after a Friday emergency public debate called by Arab nations in response to Israeli troops and tanks besieging Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
It was the second time this month the United States, Israel's closest ally, supported council action after blocking all Middle East resolution for more than a year. But on March 12, U.S. envoys had startled the council by introducing a resolution they drafted, demanding an immediate cease-fire.
Saturday's resolution calls on Israelis and Palestinians move immediately to a "meaningful cease-fire" and "calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah."
The resolution expresses "grave concern" at the recent suicide bombings in Israel and the "military attack" against Arafat's Palestinian Authority headquarters.
The measure asks both sides to cooperate fully with the Bush administration's Middle East envoy, retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement.
During a five-hour public meeting late on Friday, council members assailed Israel's assault on the Palestinian Authority with U.S. representative James Cunningham virtually alone in placing blame for the escalating crisis on Palestinian suicide bombers.
While almost all speakers condemned attacks against Israeli civilians, every nation sharply criticized Israel's action. Some 30 nations spoke during the emergency marathon debate, which interrupted a Good Friday holiday at the United Nations.
"There is no excuse for the killing of innocent civilians," said Norway's Kolby, adding that "the Israeli bombardment of Palestinian cities and institutions, which has lead to death and destruction, is unacceptable."
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan opened the meeting by telling Israel to halt its assault on the Palestinian Authority and said Palestinians had to stop "horrific terrorist attacks" against Israeli civilians.
"Terrorism will not bring the Palestinian people closer to their long-deserved claim of the right to self-determination," he said. "Destroying the Palestinian Authority will not bring Israel closer to peace."
At least 1,111 Palestinians and 383 Israelis have been killed since the violence began in September 2000. Some 200 Palestinians and 100 Israelis died in March alone.
"MOTHER OF ALL MISTAKES"
Palestinian delegate Nasser al-Kidwa said Sharon had embarked on "new insane steps." "Let me state here that any harm to President Arafat would be the mother of all these mistakes," he said.
"This represents the beginning of the destruction of the elected Palestinian Authority and the beginning of getting rid of Yasser Arafat and the reoccupation of Palestinian territory," he said. "Let me state here that any harm to President Arafat would be the mother of all these mistakes."
In response, Israel's U.N. ambassador, Yehuda Lancry, said his government had no option but to move against Arafat. He said the Palestinian leader had ignored many requests from Israel over the past four years to arrest the suicide bomber responsible for killing 22 people on Wednesday in Netanya.
"Through this entire period, the voice of the Palestinian leadership has not been one of moderation. It has been a voice of terrorism," Lancry said.
He said Israel had "no intention of occupying any territory under Palestinian control but to uproot the terrorist network that exists there. And in doing so we will, as we always have, keep our hand outstretched for peace." (With additional reporting by Irwin Arieff)
Oooooh I can feel the tension in the air.
Arabs threatening the 'mother of all' anything has kind of lost it's zip, don't you think?
That is outrageous that we even sat at the table while this was being discussed.
Proof positive that Israel has no friends in the world community (and can only marginally count the U.S. in that category).