Israel objects to U.N. observers

Peres, centre: "If the Palestinians claim that observers are a need, let them negotiate with the Israelis"

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has appealed to the United Nations to reject a Palestinian proposal for a U.N. observer mission.

Peres told the 15 council members Israel was willing to let a U.S.-led mission investigate the causes of the current violence.

But Palestinian U.N. envoy Nasser al-Kidwa insisted a U.N. force was needed to help protect Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

The two private meetings were a prelude to an open debate in the Security Council scheduled for Thursday on the Palestinian request to revive the U.N. force.

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Immediately after the violence broke out in September, Israel said it was open to the idea of a U.S.-led investigation. The Palestinians wanted U.N. involvement, but agreed to a U.S.-led fact-finding commission appointed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Peres cautioned the U.N. Security Council "not to be one-sided" in Thursday's debate on the Palestinian proposal, which is backed by Arab states.

"They don't need a protection force," Peres said after the private meeting. "The minute they stop shooting there won't be any need for protection."

"There is no shortage of anger in the Middle East, and to add anger to anger is not a contribution to peace," Peres said. Any attempt to impose a force without Israel's okay "is really harassing the peace process."

Al-Kidwa said an observer force could help reduce tensions and "Israeli repression against the Palestinians," and possibly restore the peace process "to a status of action and life."

"The situation remains very dangerous ... and we believe that the council remains obligated to act," Al-Kidwa said.

Washington's acting Ambassador to the U.N., James Cunningham, echoed the Israeli view.

"We don't think it's a good idea to pursue a path that isn't supported by both parties. The object is to get both of them back together and working together in a way that they can mutually agree, not to get into games of pushing one side or the other," he said.

In December, the Palestinians failed to muster the necessary nine votes for a U.N. force in the 15-member council. Since that vote, the makeup of the Security Council has changed, with five new non-permanent members being seated.

The United States remains key because if a new resolution gets the necessary nine votes, it could then exercise its veto power to kill it.

The violence that erupted in the West Bank and Gaza in late September after peace talks deadlocked has brought the death toll to 383 Palestinians, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

Israeli officials say that 65 Israeli Jews and 13 Israeli Arabs have also been killed.

Thousands have been injured in the clashes, which have also wrecked some homes and other buildings.

Peres urged the Palestinians to stop shooting and return to peace talks as "you cannot shoot and negotiate at the same time because shooting and talking is like fire and water."

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Palestinian National Authority
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