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Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. (AP)
Last update - 09:47 10/01/2008
Libya thwarts Security Council censure of Shlomi missile strike
By Shlomo Shamir and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents and Reuters
Tags: UN Security Council 

Libya, which last week took over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council after decades as a pariah of the West, is hindering diplomatic efforts spearheaded by Israel to issue a resolution condemning Tuesday's Katyusha strike on the Galilee, Haaretz has learned.

Two Katyusha rockets struck the western Galilee town of Shlomi, causing no injuries early Tuesday morning. One of the rockets lightly damaged a house, and the second hit a street in the town.

The main bone of contention centers around an Israeli demand that the resolution include language that characterizes the rocket strike as a violation of UN Security Council 1701, which officially ended the Second Lebanon War.
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The Libyan ambassador who assumed the council presidency, Giadalla Ettalhi, let it be known that his government rejects any reference to 1701, citing the UN position that there is no definitive proof that the rocket fire emanated from Lebanon.

Though Jerusalem has indicated a willingness to compromise on references to Lebanon in the document, it continues to insist that Resolution 1701 be cited in any censure.

For its part, Tripoli seeks to include language condemning the Israel Air Force flights over southern Lebanon in any resolution, a position which Israel rejects.

As president, Libya's ambassador to the UN is obliged to maintain contacts with all of the world body's member states, including Israel - with which it currently has no diplomatic relations. Diplomatic sources, however, doubted on Tuesday whether Libya would act so with reference to Israel.

The North African country was elected in October, as were Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia and Vietnam, to sit on the council in 2008-09 after the United States, which foiled two earlier bids by Tripoli, decided not to block it this time.

By an alphabetical accident, Libya becomes president of the 15-nation body from its very first day as a member, succeeding Italy. Each country is president for a month, the rotation going in English alphabetical order of names.

Libya and Burkina Faso had been unopposed after being endorsed by the African regional grouping for two African seats that fell vacant on Dec. 31.

The Security Council is the powerhouse of the United Nations, with the ability to send peacekeeping troops around the world and impose sanctions on specific countries.

Unlike the five permanent members - the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China - the nonpermanent members have no individual veto. But an alliance of seven of them can stop a resolution even if the big powers want it.

Libya has only recently rehabilitated itself in Western eyes from an accused sponsor of terrorism that organized the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland, which killed 270 people.


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  • Hamas: U.S. veto of UN draft resolution backs further 'massacres'
  • Early warning system fails to spot Katyusha strike in North
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      1.   Israel out of UN - UN out of Israel 05:12  |  Straight Talk 10/01/08
      2.   Arab hypocrisy again! 05:16  |  William 10/01/08
      3.   Who didnt see this coming? 05:17  |  J K 10/01/08
      4.   lybia? security council? 05:22  |  Johnny 10/01/08
      5.   You`ve got to be kidding 06:07  |  Dave from Chicago 10/01/08
      6.   Libya 08:08  |  Yosemite 10/01/08
      7.   no definitive proof that the rocket fire emanated from Lebanon?? 08:08  |  vik 10/01/08
      8.   It has been routine for decades .. 08:18  |  Natallie Durson 10/01/08
      9.   Libya the president of the UN Security Council that`s sums it up 08:24  |  Dan 10/01/08
      10.   Absolutely flabbergasted!!! at this blatant anti-Israeli slant. 08:41  |  Judith, Haifa 10/01/08
      11.   UN sinks to new lows 09:22  |  Mark Hamil 10/01/08
      12.   Make Osama Bin Laden UN president 09:26  |  Mark Hamil 10/01/08
      13.   MAKE PEOPLE IRRITATED, BUT DON`T RETALIATE PLEASE 09:46  |  indrajaya 10/01/08
      14.   THIS will not be the first war the UN circus is responsible for 09:59  |  PETER SM 10/01/08
      15.   Lybia is a joke ; the UN is impotent as always 10:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/01/08
      16.   The resolutions of a democratic body are determined by 10:14  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/01/08
      17.   "Jerusalem" and propaganda 10:17  |  Clickfool 10/01/08
      18.   Libya !! Security Council !! 10:31  |  Mohamed 10/01/08
      19.   Tey All Work To Commit &Cover Up Crimes Wich Are Against The Jews 10:52  |  Joseph E . 10/01/08
      20.   Gadhafi`s a joke, but maybe his ambassador is right here. 10:56  |  Michael 10/01/08
      21.   They Bank on and accumulate such resolutions 11:03  |  Joseph E . 10/01/08
      22.   yesterday: "Ciporas last post?" three times 11:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/01/08
      23.   For Cipora # 22 11:24  |  Clickfool 10/01/08
      24.   johnboy this was made for you 11:26  |  zevulun 10/01/08
      25.   Real/piink/Fake/Whatever Clicker.....and the subject was? 11:51  |  Ofer Maimon 10/01/08
      26.   Where did all the rockets come from that hit Gaza? 11:55  |  Jeremy Martin 10/01/08
      27.   #26 i wonder weher the missiles come from that hit iraqis 12:10  |  victor hardman 10/01/08
      28.   Jeremy is joking? 12:12  |  Ofer Maimon 10/01/08
      29.   For Ofer Maimon # 25 12:22  |  Clickfool 10/01/08
      30.   Congratulations Libya! 12:28  |  Maureen Ann 10/01/08
      31.   Even the security council isnt as stupid as you are Jeremy 12:34  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/01/08
      32.   security council: Lybia and Syria 12:44  |  Samuel 10/01/08
      33.   Maureen Ann 12:44  |  Sarah 10/01/08
      34.   #17 Clickfool. "Jerusalem" and propaganda 12:52  |  Maureen Ann 10/01/08
      35.   It is Israel`s interest 13:06  |  Ivor Stunt 10/01/08
      36.   Clickerdude and the subject???... 13:27  |  Ofer Maimon 10/01/08
      37.   #31 Jasmine Murphy 13:43  |  Ivor Stunt 10/01/08
      38.   God bless Libya 13:48  |  Jim 10/01/08
      39.   #8 Natalie (or whatever your real name is) 14:02  |  Real Bob 10/01/08
      40.   #13 Indrajaya 14:08  |  Real Bob 10/01/08
      41.   # 29 Clickfool 14:16  |  Real Bob 10/01/08
      42.   Blah blah blah from Ofer Maimon # 36 14:17  |  Clickfool 10/01/08
      43.   #30 Maureen Ann 14:18  |  Real Bob 10/01/08
      44.   israel running to the UN after years of non compliance with UN 14:25  |  lakshmi 10/01/08
      45.   johnboy how is it that your beloved united nations 14:31  |  zevulun 10/01/08
      46.   Clickfool #17 is FAKE Clickfool 14:42  |  Clickfool 10/01/08
      47.   30 moaning anne and where does it all begin 15:12  |  victor hardman 10/01/08
      48.   Congratulations Maureen Ann 15:19  |  peter 10/01/08
      49.   Click "Hypocrite" Fool (third attempt) 15:19  |  Nik "BANNED" Miller 10/01/08
      50.   why i do not find lakshmi convincing 15:23  |  nachson 10/01/08
      51.   #40 Another lie from who else but lackshmi 15:30  |  JG 10/01/08
      52.   NOT IN A MILLION YEARS 15:33  |  indrajaya 10/01/08
      53.   Libya and Israel and the UN 15:34  |  HARVEY Goldberg 10/01/08
      54.   To Ofer Mainon 15:36  |  Clickfool 10/01/08
      55.   Lybia chairing the security council!!???!!! 15:42  |  Stan 10/01/08
      56.   To Clikfool, fake or otherwise. 15:45  |  Ben 10/01/08
      57.   # 40, REAL BOB 15:52  |  indrajaya 10/01/08
      58.   Ivor Stunt 16:22  |  Jasmine Murphy 10/01/08
      59.   Real Bob 41. It`s occupation because Pals aren`t free. 16:22  |  Michael 10/01/08
      60.   Nik Miller 16:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/01/08
      61.   Libya doesn`t "thwart" anything 16:47  |  Tosefta 10/01/08
      62.   # 59 Pals are free to fire rockets into Israel 16:48  |  Petra 10/01/08
      63.   To Jeremy #26 - Missles fired into Gaza to protect Israel 16:49  |  B`Galil 10/01/08
      64.   Michael`s pals are in captivity sniffle sniffle 16:51  |  peter 10/01/08
      65.   Margie 16:59  |  Nik Miller 10/01/08
      66.   # 41, REAL BOB 17:07  |  indrajaya 10/01/08
      67.   #12 Hamil of New York, the Bin laden supporter 17:08  |  Paul Wood 10/01/08
      68.   #59 more from michael and the green men 17:12  |  victor hardman 10/01/08
      69.   Peter 64 in major denial LOL 17:14  |  Michael 10/01/08
      70.   Fakefool...I`m what?????? 17:36  |  Ofer Maimon 10/01/08
      71.