US refrains from veto of resolution demanding end of Arafat siege

The United States, anxious not to anger Arab nations as it pushes for the toppling of Saddam Hussein, declined yesterday to block a United Nations resolution demanding that Israel end its siege of the headquarters of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

The resolution, which condemns Israel for laying siege to Mr Arafat's Ramallah complex, was adopted in the early hours after 11 hours of tense negotiations in the UN Security Council. The final text was shepherded through a fractious council chamber by Britain and France.

Diplomats viewed the passage of the text as a signal moment for the council, which in recent times has watched as Washington has repeatedly stymied Arab-inspired drafts seeking to censure Israel.

This time, however, America, under strong pressure from European Union countries, resisted the temptation to use its veto and abstained, allowing the passage of the resolution by 14 votes to zero. The text also called on Palestine to ensure that those responsible for terrorist acts in Israel be brought to justice.

A compromise text offered by the American delegation also contained language on Israel that was seen as highly unusual in its tough tone. It asserted that Israel's actions "aggravated" the situation and did "not contribute to progress on comprehensive Palestinian civil and security reforms". One Western diplomat observed: "That alone shows that American patience with Israel is not infinite."

But America stopped short of supporting the final text when other delegations refused to agree to the naming of the two terrorist organisations seen by Washington as most responsible for the suicide attacks in Israeli territory – the Syrian-backed Islamic Jihad and Hamas groups.

James Cunningham, the US deputy ambassador, said: "The resolution that we've adopted was flawed in our view in that it failed to explicitly condemn the terrorist groups and those who provide them with political cover, support and safe haven in perpetuating conflict in the Middle East.''

Hanging over the entire debate was the American campaign for regime change in Iraq. The decision to allow the resolution to pass was widely seen as an effort by Washington to avoid further alienating Arab opinion as it tries to muster support for an attack on Iraq.

The resolution "demands that Israel immediately cease measures in and around Ramallah, including the destruction of Palestinian civilian and security infrastructure" and asks for the "the withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities".

At the same time, it calls on the Palestinian Authority to "ensure that those responsible for terrorist acts are brought to justice", and reiterates a demand for a halt to violence.

Israel gave no indication that it would pay heed to the text, bringing new dangers for America. Some Arab delegations instantly pointed to the inherent hypocrisy in demanding that Iraq abide by all UN resolutions to the letter while allowing resolutions aimed at Israel to go ignored.

* Nine Palestinians, including at least six civilians, were killed when the Israeli army smashed its way into Gaza yesterday. The tanks withdrew after demolishing a few buildings, but there were fears that the operation might have been a precursor to a full-scale reoccupation of the Gaza Strip.