Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 26 October 2004.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK abstention at the UN Security Council concerning Israeli military action in northern Gaza.
The UK abstained on the Security Council Resolution on Israeli military action in Gaza because the text on which we were called to vote gave the impression that fault lies only on the Israeli side. It is our view that the responsibility for taking steps to end violence lies with both sides. We proposed amendments that would have seen the Security Council resolution acknowledge Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism and make clear that the international community's concerns are about actions disproportionate to the threat. We also proposed that the resolution call on the Palestinian Authority to take firm action against acts of terrorism and their perpetrators. Unfortunately the sponsors of the text refused to accept our amendments.
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