Palestinians Want Second Vote on UN Monitoring ForcePalestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations Nasser Al-Kidwa on Wednesday threatened to ask the United Nations Security Council for a second vote on the establishment of a UN monitoring force to be deployed in all the occupied territories.Responding to the failure of the Security Council Monday to adopt a draft on the issue, Al Kidwa said in a press conference that "the next step is going back to the Security Council." "There have been more than 300 Palestinians killed and 10,000 injured, so we do not have the luxury of waiting," he said. The observer said a demand for a new council vote on the same resolution could come as soon as the next few days, depending on what happened on the ground in the Middle East and in Washington, where Israelis and Palestinians have began a new round of peace talks. The resolution stands a good chance of gaining support if the clashes continues on the ground or the talks floundered, he said. "I think in a few days the situation in Washington will become clear," the observer added. The 15-member council failed Monday to adopt a draft resolution which called for a U.N. monitoring force to be deployed in the West Bank and Gaza to protect the Palestinians. The resolution got eight votes in favor, with seven abstentions, one short of the nine votes and no veto required for adoption. |
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