Geneva press briefing

REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Jamel Ben Yahmed, Chief of the Press Unit of the Information Service of the United Nations Office at Geneva, briefed journalists about the Secretary-General's statement on Israeli shelling; the outrage expressed by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process concerning Israeli bombing; the protest by the Commissioner-General of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA); the announcement by the Secretary-General to interrupt negotiations with Cambodia on the trial of Khmer Rouge leaders; the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Secretary-General's concern over situation in Liberia; and upcoming conference by the Arab League.

Situation in the Middle East

Mr. Ben Yahmed said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday deplored the "deepening spiral of violence" between Israel and the Palestinians. Mr. Annan expressed dismay at Israel's shelling of facilities belonging to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza near civilian areas with bombs of heavy tonnage, which caused substantial damage to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ offices and injury to two Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ employees. The Secretary-General reiterated his belief that no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be found through violence and retaliation. He called on both sides to make every effort to achieve a durable ceasefire and return to the negotiating table, as there was no alternative to a political solution of this conflict.

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, had expressed outrage that Israel had deployed heavy tonnage bombs so near to civilians and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ facilities. Noting that the blasts had blown out all first-floor Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ office windows – including his own – Mr. Roed-Larsen had expressed relief that there were no fatalities. He emphasized Israel's security needs would not be met by hitting civilian targets or by destroying the Palestinians' ability to police and maintain order.

Mr. Peter Hansen, the Commissioner General of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA), Peter Hansen, acting on behalf of the all United Nations Agencies represented in the occupied Palestinian territory, had also protested the bombing in "the strongest possible terms". Expressing dismay at the use of heavy weaponry in close proximity to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ offices, Mr. Hansen reminded the Government of Israel of its responsibility under international law to ensure the safety and security of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ staff working in the area.

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Document symbol:
Document Type: Press Release
Document Sources: United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI)
Subject: Armed conflict, Incidents, Intifadah II, Palestine question, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 12/02/2002