Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., April 06, 2008 Nisan 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:14 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israeli ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman. (Archives) Last update - 10:22 02/04/2008 Sensing affront, Arabs seek to close Security Council doors By Shlomo Shamir Tags: Arabs  NEW YORK - Arab diplomats in the United Nations are leading an initiative to get the UN Security Council to halt its practice of holding open sessions. Instead, all sessions would be held behind closed doors. A key Arab diplomat in the United Nations met a few days ago with the ambassador of one of the five permanent members of the Security Council to discuss the suggestion, which would keep sessions closed to the media as well as the general public. Reliable UN sources said the ambassador, considered one of the most influential in New York, promised the Arab leader to consider the move and bring it up for discussion with the other members of the Security Council. Advertisement The Arab proposal was described on Tuesday as unusual and far-reaching. The Security Council is the only body in the UN whose decisions have practical significance and which has enforcement authority, including the right to use force. The initiative to have closed sessions, which is being pursued through covert channels for the meantime, is an expression of the frustration and affront that Arab and Muslim envoys to the UN feel. The Arabs have recently been embarrassed during recent Security Council meetings concerning the Middle East in the wake of the condemnation of extremist comments by representatives of Arab countries who participated in open Security Council meetings. A veteran Western diplomat said on Tuesday that the Arabs in the UN want to prevent media reports on the meetings, which have recently become a source of criticism and scorn against extremist Arab positions. In last week's Security Council meeting on the Mideast, Israeli ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman said the "assassins of Damascus and the butchers of Sudan" had no right to be preaching at Israel. Related articles: News / Israeli and Arab envoys trade barbs at the United Nations UN rights body holds moment of silence for Gaza 'martyrs' Israel unfairly singled out by UN, says Dutch FM Palestinian UN envoy slams General Assembly adoption of Israeli resolution Bookmark to del.icio.us   Pot shots Hamas says Gazan rockets are not aimed at Israeli women and children. I'll be watching you Hezbollah says it will monitor Israel's civil defense drill closely.   1.   Let`s see the outcome of this 04:17  |  Nechama 02/04/08   2.   They`re embarrassed? 05:07  |  Lynn 02/04/08   3.   UN is a corrupt, useless organization 05:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/04/08   4.   The same way they don`t want extremist positions of Koran exposed 05:29  |  McQueen 02/04/08   5.   Israel will ultimately be brought down from within 06:56  |  Natallie Durson 02/04/08   6.   What? Arabs Aren`t Proud of Hating Jews? 07:15  |  Tex 02/04/08   7.   Like middle eastern governments 07:59  |  DC 02/04/08   8.   The West has build up its worst enemy 08:12  |  Jean Van Daem 02/04/08   9.   Can all the Arabs go to China? 09:32  |  Alex 02/04/08   10.   They make extremist remarks and they feel affront 09:33  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08   11.   Arab democracy at the UN. What a joke. 11:41  |  Stephen. 02/04/08   12.   SO what have the Arabs got to hide? Supress dissent like home? 12:31  |  PETER SM 02/04/08   13.   Clash of Civilizations 12:59  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 02/04/08   14.   Natalie Durson - A reversal of the truth 13:04  |  Michael Jacobs 02/04/08   15.   13 Ovadia,a pernicious doctrine spread by the zionazis and their 13:40  |  lakshmi 02/04/08   16.   Durson a Stalinist at heart? 13:58  |  Joe Sittizen 02/04/08   17.   UN Is a Waste of Prime Real Estate and Taxes 14:11  |  Jane 02/04/08   18.   Conservative UK party seeking UN Reforms 14:14  |  Lynn 02/04/08   19.   "Extremist positions", care to be more specific? 15:17  |  peacelover 02/04/08   20.   US and the West should never agree to this 12:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/04/08   21.   Can we afford to avoid a preventive strike against... 08:56  |  Jean Van Daem 06/04/08

Today Online Israel and U.S. to coordinate on boycott of anti-racism meet Responses: 365 Former militant leader: The Palestinian people is finished Responses: 366 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter Responses: 163 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack Responses: 76 More Headlines 08:42 Israel, U.S. plan to release details on September 2007 Syria attack 09:51 Hamas: If Israel doesn't release prisoners, we'll negotiate over Shalit's bones 08:44 U.S. supervising training of elite PA unit in Jordan 08:46 Border Police let settlers retake illegal West Bank outpost 02:42 'Barak is wrong, Olmert is right' 05:20 The Economist: Israeli economy stable but has shaky foundation 10:09 Charlton Heston, silver screen's Moses and Ben-Hur, dies at 84 10:15 Rabbi: Jews, more than anyone, helped black Americans achieve equality 05:22 Mazuz moves to limit racial profiling at Ben-Gurion Airport 05:19 David Grossman: I had a wish my book would protect my son Uri 00:58 Erekat: Abbas, Olmert to meet Monday to review negotiations Previous Editions Select Day 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved