Last update - 00:00 31/07/2007
Palestinians welcome withdrawal of UN statement on Gaza crisis
By Reuters
The Palestinian Authority on Monday welcomed the withdrawal of a proposed United Nations Security Council statement meant to express concern over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Since the militant Hamas faction violently seized control of the coastal territory in mid-June, the crossings along its borders have largely remained closed, creating a severe shortage of food and other essentials.
The Palestinian delegation to the UN, affiliated with Fatah, opposed the statement partly because of the party's rivalry with Hamas.
The Palestinian delegation said the authority did not object to the content of the proposed Security Council statement, drafted by Qatar, but rather objected to not being consulted on the initiative.
Officials from Qatar, which currently sits on the Security Council, confirmed that they had withdrawn the statement on Monday after it became apparent it would not pass.
Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told journalists in prepared comments "it is unacceptable for anyone, including friends, to act on our behalf without our knowledge, without consulting us ... It would send wrong messages."
Mansour said he understood the statement was withdrawn on Monday. There was no immediate confirmation from diplomats of countries represented on the Security Council.
Qatar, backed by Indonesia, had drafted a Security Council statement on Gaza, which would have required the agreement of all its 15 members, including countries that maintain friendly relations with Israel such as the United States.
"At this point there is no specific need for a presidential statement," Mansour said, referring to an official Security Council statement usually issued in lieu of a resolution.
Asked on whose behalf he thought Qatar was acting in drafting the statement, he said "I think that this is a very good question to ask the Qataris."