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Security Council members urge Israel to pull out from Palestinian-controlled areas

Security Council members urge Israel to pull out from Palestinian-controlled areas

Amb. Richard Ryan addressing the press
Deeply concerned at the intensifying violence in the Middle East, members of the United Nations Security Council have called on Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from a Palestinian-controlled area there.

In a statement to the press released late Thursday evening, the Council President, Ambassador Richard Ryan of Ireland, deplored the loss of life on both sides that has resulted from the recent escalation. "Members supported statements in capitals calling for immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Area A," he said, referring to the Palestinian-controlled vicinity.

The Council President said the members "fully supported the important diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the situation on the ground," and "strongly supported" elements contained in a statement issued in the region on Thursday by representatives of the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation, and the Secretary-General's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.

That statement, which was read out in Gaza by Special Coordinator Terje Roed-Larsen, noted that the Palestinian Authority's steps to ensure strict implementation of the ceasefire had been undermined by the assassination of Israeli Cabinet Minister Rehavam Zeevi. It noted statements by Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat detailing steps to control violence and combat terrorism, and welcomed his commitment to take additional measures to adhere to the ceasefire. Mr. Arafat was urged to ensure full and strict compliance "including through arresting those who defy his orders and taking further steps against terrorist organizations."

Concerning Israel, the statement called for its immediate withdrawal from Area A. Israel was also called on to halt extra-judicial killings, ensure greater restraint by its defence forces, fully respect the ceasefire, move swiftly to ease closures, and implement the Mitchell Report and Tenet plan, "which will lead to a resumption of the political process in order to address the fundamental issues between the two parties."

"We stressed the importance of bringing a rapid end to the current crisis so that hope could be restored to the Palestinian and Israeli people," the envoys said. "We stressed that the international community stood ready to undertake vigorous efforts to restore the Palestinian economy following the devastating losses caused by the crisis and the closures."