US Secretary of State Close to Winning Approval for UN Resolution on Hebron Attack

Strategic Insights -

US Secretary of State Warren Christopher has made significant progress in winning Israeli and Palestinian approval for a UN resolution condemning the Hebron attack on Palestinians. The resolution, which will also express support for the peace process and reaffirm that the final status of Jerusalem will be settled in future negotiations, is expected to be voted on by the UN no earlier than Friday.

Key Takeaways:

  • US Secretary of State Warren Christopher has spoken twice in the past 24 hours to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat, and to Egyptian officials to secure their approval for the UN resolution.
  • The resolution condemns the Hebron attack, in which scores of Palestinians were gunned down by an ultra-right wing Jewish settler, and calls for an observer force to watch over Arabs in the occupied territories.
  • The resolution will also express support for the peace process and reaffirm that the final status of Jerusalem will be settled in future negotiations.
  • US President Bill Clinton's special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Dennis Ross, spoke to former US Secretary of State James Baker, who is currently visiting Israel, to bring him up to speed on the resolution.
  • While reports had suggested that Christopher threatened to veto the resolution unless Arafat agreed to rejoin immediately the peace talks, a senior aide accompanying Christopher has denied these reports.
  • Israel and the PLO were close to agreement on implementing a framework agreement, negotiated secretly in Norway, that gives Palestinians limited control over the Gaza Strip and West Bank town of Jericho.

Statistics:

  • 11 days: The duration of Warren Christopher's Pacific Rim tour.
  • 24 hours: The time frame in which Christopher spoke twice to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat, and Egyptian officials.
  • 2 letters: The number of letters Christopher spoke to Rabin, Arafat, and Egyptian officials.
  • 1 framework agreement: The agreement negotiated secretly in Norway that gives Palestinians limited control over the Gaza Strip and West Bank town of Jericho.
  • 1 veto threat: The denial of reports that Christopher threatened to veto the resolution unless Arafat agreed to rejoin immediately the peace talks.

Sources:

  • UPI Diplomatic Writer SID BALMAN Jr.
  • TOKYO, March 11
  • Reuters Wire Service