UN chief expresses concern as Gaza conflict escalates

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-05 09:31

A Jordanian attends an anti-Israel protest in Amman January 4, 2009. Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip has inflamed sentiment across the Arab world against governments seen as doing little or nothing to stop the onslaught. From Cairo to Riyadh, the offensive illustrated the gulf between the policies of Arab rulers and the feelings of their citizens. [Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the divided UN Security Council on Sunday to work for a speedy end to the escalating crisis in Gaza following Israel's ground attack.

Ban said he recalled Robert Serry, his special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, from Jerusalem to brief him on the situation on the ground. And Ban planned to meet Monday with Arab ministers who are flying to New York to press for a Security Council resolution demanding an immediate end to the violence.

The United States late Saturday blocked approval of a council statement calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and expressing serious concern at the escalation of violence, council diplomats said. The statement was put forward after Israeli tanks and artillery began their assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza.

US deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States saw no prospect of Hamas abiding by last week's council call for an immediate end to the violence. Therefore, he said, a new statement at this time "would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, (and) would not do credit to the council."

While the council took no action Saturday night, an Arab draft resolution circulated by Libya on Wednesday night that would condemn Israel and halt its military attacks on Gaza remains on the table. It would have to be revised, however, since the United States called it "unacceptable" and "unbalanced" because it doesn't call for an end to the Hamas rocketing of Israel.

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