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Last update - 13:50 09/01/2009
UN truce urges IDF exit from Gaza, mechanism to halt arms smuggling
By Barak Ravid and Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies
Tags: Gaza, United Nations, Hamas 

The UN Security Council on Thursday called for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, following Israel's 14-day offensive on the Hamas-ruled coastal territory.

Resolution 1860 passed with a majority of 14 votes. The United States abstained from voting.


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The resolution "stresses the urgency of and calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected cease-fire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza."

It also called for arrangements in Gaza to prevent arms smuggling to Palestinian militants and reopen border crossings, and for "unimpeded provision" and distribution of aid in Gaza, where more than 750 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed.

There was no immediate reaction from Israeli officials to the vote, but Israel has opposed the idea of a binding resolution. Israel's political security cabinet was to meet Friday to determine whether to pursue the ground offensive or accept a truce.

For its part, Gaza's Hamas rulers did not recognize the resolution as it had not been consulted on it, said a spokesman for the Islamist group.

Addressing the council, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the resolution and said she abstained only because the United States first wanted to see the outcome of an Egyptian mediation effort.

The UN text was the product of days of tortuous negotiations between top diplomats from the United States, Britain and France and Arab states. Rice, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner negotiated for three days with Arab diplomats at the United Nations on a compromise text.

Miliband said the resolution would "help turn the good words on paper into changes on the ground that are desperately needed."

Israel attacked Gaza on December 27 in a bid to stamp out rocket fire by Palestinian militants against southern Israel.

Arab countries, many facing strong anti-Israeli sentiment at home, insisted the Security Council must issue a binding resolution that would force Israel to end its military campaign in the Gaza Strip immediately.

Israel had opposed the idea of a binding UN resolution.

The United States had backed its ally Israel but diplomats said it dropped its objections and agreed to go along with a cautiously worded text.

Libya, the only Arab country on the council, had earlier presented Western countries with a revised version of a resolution it drafted earlier this week.

Until Thursday, Western countries had pushed for a nonbinding presidential statement by the Security Council. But Arab ministers rejected that as inadequate and persuaded the British, U.S. and French delegations to accept wording that might be unpalatable to Israel.

Arab ministers huddled in meeting rooms in the basement of the council while Western powers had their base two floors above them, shuttling back and forth with suggestions.

As agreement neared, a British expert delivered Arab ministers an amended text while they were grabbing late-afternoon sandwiches and coffee in a heavily smoke-laden cafe in the basement.

A Western diplomat said there was something for both Israelis and Palestinians in the final text of the resolution.

"You need to give the Israelis something which responds to their legitimate security concerns about smuggling, and the balancing element of that for the Palestinians is to find a sustainable way of opening the crossings" into Gaza.

Shortly before the UN talks began, Israeli envoys went to Cairo and held talks with Egyptian officials on an initiative by the presidents of Egypt and France that calls for a temporary truce. Hamas militants have yet to commit to coming to Cairo for talks and said they have major reservations about the plan.

The latest draft resolution welcomes the Egyptian initiative and other regional and international efforts that are underway.

Hamas violently wrested control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian
Authority in June 2007 and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel.

In a possible sign Hamas was unwilling to compromise yet, a senior Hamas
official in Syria, Mohammed Nazzal, told Syrian TV on Thursday that the group would never surrender and vowed to fight house to house against Israeli troops in Gaza.

A joint statement issued by Palestinian groups based in Syria's capital
Thursday rejected the Egyptian-French initiative, saying it would undermine Gazans' resistance and give Israel a free hand to continue aggression.

Hamas is normally a member of the coalition, but it wasn't clear if it signed the statement. Hamas officials in Syria were not available for comment. Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon who is close to the group's top leader, said he was not aware of the statement.

Israel's government said Wednesday that it viewed the Egyptian-French proposal positively but stopped short of acceptance.

The leaders of France and Germany met Thursday to discuss the crisis and urged quick action to halt the fighting. Frenchdent Palestinian state living in peace alongside a secure state of Israel. The House was expected to pass a similar measure Friday.

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      1.   Interesting Situation 21:03  |  Paul 08/01/09
      2.   was there no Israeli in these meetings? 21:24  |  D 08/01/09
      3.   UNSC Ignores international law again 22:04  |  Gee 08/01/09
      4.   women and children into the desert 22:27  |  real vision 08/01/09
      5.   Demilitarised 22:32  |  Motic 08/01/09
      6.   Israel must continue to clean this nest of terrorism and should 23:19  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 08/01/09
      7.   un resolution 23:23  |  DesertEagle50 08/01/09
      8.   For those who still cannot see the evil both we & Gazans face... 23:41  |  bat yam 08/01/09
      9.   guarantee an end to the smuggling of weapons into Gaza 23:52  |  vik 08/01/09
      10.   yeah and also does`nt mention Shallit 01:14  |  sam 09/01/09
      11.   They will call this Res.1701-A 01:31  |  Nemesis 09/01/09
      12.   GO IDF 01:57  |  Paul 09/01/09
      13.   The UN Stresses And Is Concerned 02:16  |  Jeff Northridge 09/01/09
      14.   of course it doesn`t... 02:33  |  D 09/01/09
      15.   REAL VISION 03:22  |  AL 09/01/09
      16.   Sounds Like Progress at Least on Paper 03:44  |  Jane 09/01/09
      17.   Why a truce won`t work 03:52  |  Morris Valentine 09/01/09
      18.   Cease Fire means Hamas Won 03:53  |  Haaretz Reader 09/01/09
      19.   This means little 03:56  |  An American 09/01/09
      20.   Did anyone ask Israel 03:57  |  steve from Raleigh 09/01/09
      21.   To #1 04:11  |  Amr 09/01/09
      22.   There Are Postive Elements In the Plan 04:28  |  Brad 09/01/09
      23.   Just like in Lebanon no smuggling of weaposns....what a farce 04:33  |  r 09/01/09
      24.   Caution, Warning, Stop 04:43  |  Shimon Cleopas 09/01/09
      25.   The UN Resolution is not worth the paper its written on 05:08  |  Livin In Rishon 09/01/09
      26.   A fig leafe for you, and a fig leaf for me 05:11  |  Mark Lincoln 09/01/09
      27.   wasted ink, watsted paper... 05:19  |  bashar 09/01/09
      28.   we are heading toward a copy of the Lebanon resolution 05:21  |  ME 09/01/09
      29.   UN RESOLUTIONS WORTH NOTHING 05:29  |  MAJOR DANI 09/01/09
      30.   Easy Fix 05:29  |  Lynn 09/01/09
      31.   FIGHT TERROR WITH TERROR 05:40  |  MAJOR DANI 09/01/09
      32.   to #1 05:42  |  hazarin 09/01/09
      33.   you can not trust the arabs 05:45  |  Jonas 09/01/09
      34.   When hamas is annihilated then there will be a ceasefire 06:23  |  Johnny 09/01/09
      35.   UN words mean nothing when it`s Iran 06:24  |  Jon 09/01/09
      36.   Interesting indeed. 06:24  |  Johnboy 09/01/09
      37.   It is perfect time 06:35  |  dan 09/01/09
      38.   I predict a grim future 06:39  |  An Arab 09/01/09
      39.   The Emergency Meeting 06:40  |  Shimon Cleopas 09/01/09
      40.   7 - I Don`t Think So Major 06:41  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/01/09
      41.   deja vu 06:45  |  Colin Wright 09/01/09
      42.   Time Is Running Out 06:49  |  crlman 09/01/09
      43.   1/8 real vision & hazarin - Fallujah II 06:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/01/09
      44.   its about OIL 06:53  |  pathetic UN 09/01/09
      45.   Fantasyland in NY 06:54  |  MichaelF 09/01/09
      46.   can`t trust Israelis 06:56  |  Anas 09/01/09
      47.   Israel`s conditions for any acceptance of cease fire 06:58  |  The Archives 09/01/09
      48.   To: Hazarin. Beit Jibrin (Palestine) 07:04  |  Andrew 09/01/09
      49.   security council, pass a resolution on cease fire with Al Qaeda 07:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/01/09
      50.   Israel is a transplant that went sour 07:13  |  Joe 09/01/09
      51.   CALLING MR BIN LADEN... 07:18  |  PADDY 09/01/09
      52.   New song for the UN 07:18  |  Spread the Love 09/01/09
      53.   Hamas must surrender 07:31  |  Per 09/01/09
      54.   The same UN 07:34  |  An American 09/01/09
      55.   the un resolution was dead before it was born 07:43  |  kelly 09/01/09
      56.   look at sri lanka 08:01  |  Jeff 09/01/09
      57.   Gabi Ashkenazi--a great leader! 08:05  |  Mea 09/01/09
      58.   Seriously? 08:07  |  Shmulik 09/01/09
      59.   Let`s see if Hamas abides by the cease-fire? It said it wouldn`t! 08:23  |  redbourn 09/01/09
      60.   Where is Iran????? 08:30  |  Raviv 09/01/09
      61.   VENOGRAD 2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 08:30  |  DAVID 09/01/09
      62.   The UNO. 08:48  |  Jean Van Daem 09/01/09
      63.   Israel can`t afford but to see to Hamas ceases all of its ... 09:01  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 09/01/09
      64.   Israel loses 09:02  |  Clickfool 09/01/09
      65.   Looks good 09:04  |  Colin Wright 09/01/09
      66.   Yesterday`s proof 09:04  |  Tzfonit 09/01/09
      67.   DOES IT stop Hamas targetting Israeli civillians? 09:09  |  PETER SM 09/01/09
      68.   Oh! but you can trust the israelis. 09:11  |  kamal 09/01/09
      69.   Israel does not respect anyone 09:13  |  Rami 09/01/09
      70.   These quick fixes are only good for allowing hamas to rearm. 09:24  |  dave 09/01/09
      71.   Who was the winner 09:27  |  Amino 09/01/09
      72.   UN you made this too easy.. SCREW YOU UN... 09:34  |  Ben 09/01/09
      73.   #8 hazarin,are you happy with Hamas tactics? 09:34  |  Hastaroth 09/01/09
      74.   It was a UN resolution that created Israel 09:39  |  The Revving Girl 09/01/09
      75.   The UN is Anti-Israel 09:40  |  US CITIZEN 09/01/09
      76.   Lynn 09:49  |  Guido 09/01/09
      77.   It`s time for Israel to quit the UN 09:51  |  Tova M. 09/01/09
      78.   any action Israel takes to deter or extinguish its enemies 09:53  |  Joseph.E 09/01/09
      79.   Lessons from UN resolution 1701 09:56  |  Proud Israeli 09/01/09
      80.   Taste the future, Israel - no US veto of the SC resolution 10:01  |  Clickfool 09/01/09
      81.   Caution, Warning, Stop 10:02  |  Shimon Cleopas 09/01/09
      82.   Enough is enough 10:05  |  Aaron 09/01/09
      83.   Peace 10:19  |  Human being 09/01/09
      84.   to # 7 Major Dani 10:26  |  Sibi 09/01/09
      85.   The only `arrangements in Gaza` should be 10:36  |  Nechama 09/01/09
      86.   ANOTHER FAILURE... 2006-2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10:40  |  DAVID 09/01/09
      87.   MAJOR DANI: you`re a true Israeli 10:53  |  José 09/01/09
      88.   This is the correct move 10:54  |  Shimon Cleopas 09/01/09
      89.   1860 11:04  |  STOP THE WAR NOW 09/01/09
      90.   Tova -It`s time for Israel to quit the UN 11:20  |  mariapalestina 09/01/09
      91.   Another Bush Betrayal 11:22  |  b 09/01/09
      92.   The UN is Anti-Israel 11:25  |  RSA citizen 09/01/09
      93.   UNSC resolution 1860 not biding ? 11:32  |  Joseph.E 09/01/09
      94.   re:wasted ink wasted paper 11:32  |  RSA citizen 09/01/09
      95.   Use of force against Israel 11:34  |  ahyar 09/01/09
      96.   @ real vision, Nr. 1 11:35  |  Anna 09/01/09
      97.   Security Council should call for a cease fire with Al Qaeda 11:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/01/09
      98.   RE:you can not trust the arabs 11:51  |  sean 09/01/09
      99.   UNSC resolution 1860 calls for unimpeded provision and distribu 12:07  |  Joseph.E 09/01/09
      100.   USA double standard 12:18  |  lady from USA 09/01/09
      101.   # 29 STOP THE ROCKETS NOW 12:21  |  ChanahS 09/01/09
      102.   UN where were they for the rocket attacks? 12:23  |  James 09/01/09
      103.   hazarin 12:24  |  lady from USA 09/01/09
      104.   Up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million driven from 12:36  |  Paul K 09/01/09
      105.   The Revving Girl 12:38  |  lady from USA 09/01/09
      106.   UN Security Council calls for immediate Gaza truce 12:41  |  Fariborz Soltani 09/01/09
      107.   Yelling stop sounds pretty ineffectual 12:45  |  Shoshana 09/01/09
      108.   The UN proves It`s Bias Once Again 12:47  |  Baruch Gold 09/01/09
      109.   How with this Help Me? 12:53  |  Gaza Bar and Grill 09/01/09
      110.   7# IRA where not elimanated, they are in power! 12:55  |  ruairi 09/01/09
      111.   It`s time for Israel to quit the UN 13:04  |  Larissa 09/01/09
      112.   to Jonas 13:09  |  Katy 09/01/09
      113.   #29 - tell Hamas - Machismo means their end! 13:15  |  redbourn 09/01/09
      114.   # 6 Wrong again it was the League of nations 13:27  |  Petra 09/01/09
      115.   # 27 Lima your spelling could use help 13:33  |  Petra 09/01/09
      116.   # 1890 tell Hamas to stop the rockets and mortars, 13:36  |  Petra 09/01/09
      117.   Clickfool - Nobody cares... the UN is a supporter 13:37  |  Ben 09/01/09
      118.   Where was the UN when Israel needed it? 13:44  |  Lisa 09/01/09
      119.   http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85667 13:47  |  lady from USA 09/01/09
      120.   how dare they 14:03  |  matt 09/01/09
      121.   To all anti- israelis 14:09  |  Jozef 09/01/09
      122.   Israels Security will hopefully not be left to UNIFIL 14:18  |  Avi 09/01/09
      123.   UN Resolution 14:20  |  Paul 09/01/09
      124.   A must read 14:57  |  ChanahS 09/01/09
      125.   The U.N. 15:11  |  The Teacher/Instruct 09/01/09
      126.   who exactly is the un? 15:14  |  shmuel 09/01/09
      127.   #21 Shimon Cleopas 15:22  |  H 09/01/09
      128.   Resolution with lacunae... 15:32  |  Esther 09/01/09
      129.   Terrorism and Terrorists 15:35  |  Frances 09/01/09
      130.   Europeans, Intl. Rd Cross, Un, etc........ 15:44  |  John Allen 09/01/09
      131.   UN:"Jews are NOT permitted to defend themselves!" 15:47  |  Arie 09/01/09
      132.   #8 hazarin in palestine 15:54  |  John Allen 09/01/09
      133.   #14 fromm Vroom-m land. 16:06  |  John Allen 09/01/09
      134.   SURPRISE SURPRISE: wasted ink, wasted paper... 16:27  |  bashar 09/01/09
      135.   #20 Clicky...seems no one, including Hamas, 16:29  |  Lynn 09/01/09
      136.   the EU and Israel 16:30  |  mike cato 09/01/09
      137.   José # 27 The Gaza Strip Is An Hostile Entity 16:59  |  Jeff Northridge 09/01/09
      138.   Ceasefire U.N. style..... 17:23  |  Milou 09/01/09
      139.   Put an End 18:10  |  Areeba 09/01/09
      140.   Am I Wrong!!! 18:38  |  Alan Sip 09/01/09
      141.   stop the war now,first,go tell that to your hamas heros 18:49  |  terrornator 09/01/09
      142.   # 15 YES... 18:56  |  BSchnider 09/01/09
      143.   killall 19:08  |  killall 09/01/09
      144.   The high price of `election` folly 19:09  |  Roo 09/01/09
      145.   Ghaza 19:11  |  nevermind 09/01/09
      146.   Killall and apples 19:36  |  AG 09/01/09
      147.   UN works WITH the Terrorists 19:39  |  *BEN JABO 09/01/09
      148.   UN-brokered truce is absolutely unacceptable 19:49  |  Angel 09/01/09
      149.   to Alan Sip 19:57  |  starving population 09/01/09
      150.   STOP reacting, STOP THE MADNESS!!!! 20:00  |  L M R 09/01/09
      151.   Change UN to UAN 20:02  |  michael 09/01/09
      152.   Who is guilty 20:20  |  Nick 09/01/09
      153.   cease fire 20:26  |  attal 09/01/09
      154.   Why does`t UN urge truce in Sri lanka ? More than 70000 killed. 20:39  |  Time to ask 09/01/09
      155.   No good deed goes unpunished 20:44  |  Arie 09/01/09
      156.   Killal no 143 21:00  |  Tina 09/01/09
      157.   Acquisition of territory in a war of self defense 21:04  |  Joseph.E 09/01/09
      158.   UN does not mean anything 21:07  |  Tina 09/01/09
      159.   Arabs often repeated call for Israeli withdrawal and 21:14  |  Joseph.E 09/01/09
      160.   IDF into Gaza 21:35  |  andrew toth 09/01/09
      161.   the resolution provide an incentive for aggression 21:43  |  Joseph.E 09/01/09
      162.   Joe 02:22  |  Sean 10/01/09
      163.   Killall 02:25  |  Sean 10/01/09
      164.   Can you just imagine was the previous resolutions looked like? 02:31  |  flyingdoc57 10/01/09
      165.   #8 Yes bat yam..just been there too.. 02:44  |  Need we say more 10/01/09
      166.   The feeling is mutual 06:09  |  Mark Lincoln 10/01/09
      167.   Gaza 20:56  |  American Tax payer 10/01/09
      168.   To American Tax Payer 21:36  |  flyingdoc57 10/01/09
      169.   UN truce urgings 22:02  |  Michael LaPorta 10/01/09
      170.   Iasael and Hamas 23:44  |  Dik 10/01/09
      171.   The antiJewish, anti Israel UN 01:03  |  Proud Israeli 11/01/09
      172.   Important to finish this operation with a victory! 01:29  |  Ulf Anderson 11/01/09
      173.   #143 killall.... 01:33  |  Lynn 11/01/09
      174.   What`s the matter with the UN 04:21  |  AnitaK 12/01/09
      175.   crickets 06:34  |  Joe 13/01/09
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