US vetoes UN Yassin vote
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution chastising Israel’s assassination of Hamas’ spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
The wheelchair-bound Yassin was killed by an Israeli air strike on Monday morning in the Gaza Strip while he was making his way to a local mosque.
The Bush administration balked at affirming the draft resolution – which condemned “all terrorist attacks against any civilians, as well as all acts of violence and destruction” – as the proposal did not sufficiently denounce Hamas’ own acts of terrorism.
US ambassador John Negroponte said the resolution was “silent about the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas, because it does not reflect the realities of the conflict in the Middle East and will not further the goals of peace and security in the region”.
He said the measure was “unbalanced” and “one-sided”.
The US was the only member of the 15-seat Security Council to vote against the resolution, introduced by Algeria on behalf of Arab nations.
Britain, Germany and Romania abstained.
Eleven voted in favour – China, Russia, France, Spain, the Philippines, Angola, Chile, Pakistan, Algeria, Benin and Brazil.
On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva voted 31-2 to condemn Israel for Yassin’s death.
Palestinian Authority ambassador Nasser al-Kidwa said: “The superpower that voted against the resolution suggests things that are impossible to accept.
“There is no doubt that millions will be unable to understand what happened today. This indeed will not contribute to calming the situation and a push toward moderation or dialogue in the region.”
