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1 March 2008
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Security Council Hears from Israel and Palestine on Gaza Violence
01/03/2008
An immediate ceasefire together with "tangible action" would end the violence, death and destruction taking place in the occupied Palestinian territory.
That according to Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Dr. Riyad Mansour, in his address to the Security Council on Saturday night.
According to the UN, nearly 60 Palestinians were killed on Saturday, including women and children. Two Israeli soldiers also were killed in fighting following land incursions near the northern Gaza Strip.
Dr. Mansour told Council members that the Palestinian people were witnessing the "horrific materialization" of repeated prior threats from Israeli officials.
"We highlight the recent threat by the Deputy Defense Minister of Israel to inflict a—and I quote—'holocaust' among the Palestinian people in Gaza. Such threats, combined with the actual killing of civilians and destruction being perpetrated by Israel, the occupying power, must be viewed with the utmost seriousness, must be vehemently condemned, and require immediate action by the international community, including the Security Council."
Meanwhile, Israeli charge d'affaires Daniel Carmon told the Council that his country should not have to apologize for protecting its citizens.
He said more than a quarter of a million Israelis are "in the range of the deadly and murderous weapons of Hamas."
"No responsible member state would sit back in silence and do nothing as its citizens and territory are under constant attack. They would not be idle as the alarms in Sderot--and now Ashkelon--blare 'colour red, colour red,' giving Israeli citizens less than 15 seconds. Fifteen seconds of terror--that's all it takes before the rocket slams into their lives, their homes, hospitals, kindergartens, schools and playgrounds. And their lives are destroyed forever."
Mr. Carmon said Israel had exercised restraint despite rocket and mortar attacks on towns in the southern part of the country.
That according to Palestinian representative to the United Nations, Dr. Riyad Mansour, in his address to the Security Council on Saturday night.
According to the UN, nearly 60 Palestinians were killed on Saturday, including women and children. Two Israeli soldiers also were killed in fighting following land incursions near the northern Gaza Strip.
Dr. Mansour told Council members that the Palestinian people were witnessing the "horrific materialization" of repeated prior threats from Israeli officials.
"We highlight the recent threat by the Deputy Defense Minister of Israel to inflict a—and I quote—'holocaust' among the Palestinian people in Gaza. Such threats, combined with the actual killing of civilians and destruction being perpetrated by Israel, the occupying power, must be viewed with the utmost seriousness, must be vehemently condemned, and require immediate action by the international community, including the Security Council."
Meanwhile, Israeli charge d'affaires Daniel Carmon told the Council that his country should not have to apologize for protecting its citizens.
He said more than a quarter of a million Israelis are "in the range of the deadly and murderous weapons of Hamas."
"No responsible member state would sit back in silence and do nothing as its citizens and territory are under constant attack. They would not be idle as the alarms in Sderot--and now Ashkelon--blare 'colour red, colour red,' giving Israeli citizens less than 15 seconds. Fifteen seconds of terror--that's all it takes before the rocket slams into their lives, their homes, hospitals, kindergartens, schools and playgrounds. And their lives are destroyed forever."
Mr. Carmon said Israel had exercised restraint despite rocket and mortar attacks on towns in the southern part of the country.
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