Text deploring Israeli policies in occupied territories vetoed.

• Position: By United States

The text (S/20463) was flawed" and "unbalanced", the United States said. It did not take into sufficient account either the context in which Israeli policies and practices occurred or the excesses of the other side". Palestinian acts of violence, no more than those committed by Israelis, could not be condoned. "Only by reducing bloodshed can an atmosphere conducive to accommodation and negotiations be achieved", it said.

The Council vote-14 to 1-came after five meetings, held between 10 and 17 February, to consider the "situation in the occupied Palestinian territory". Tunisia, as Chairman of the Arab Group, requested the meeting. The text, submitted by Algeria, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Nepal, Senegal and Yugoslavia, would have had the Council also strongly deplore what was termed "continuing disregard" by Israel, the occupying Power, of relevant Council decisions.

Israel would have been called upon to abide by relevant Council resolutions, as well as to comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to desist forthwith from policies and practices in violation of that Convention.

The Council also would have called for the "exercise of maximum restraint to contribute towards the establishment of peace". And it would also have affirmed the urgent need to achieve, under UN auspices, a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Middle East conflict, "an integral part of which is the Palestinian problem", and would have expressed its determination to work...