UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told Israel to halt its assault on the Palestinian Authority and said Palestinians had to stop "horrific terrorist attacks" against Israeli civilians.
Mr Annan opened an emergency UN Security Council debate on the escalating crisis in which most council members, except for the United States, echoed his position. And Council President Mr Ole Peter Kolby of Norway declared that Israeli and Palestinian leaders seemed to be locked into a battle with no exit.
"Israel should halt its assault on the Palestinian authority," Mr Annan said yesterday. "Destroying the Palestinian Authority will not bring Israel closer to peace."
At the same time he said he shared the anger of Israelis over suicide attacks. "Horrific terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, first in Netanya and then in Jerusalem have been carried out," he said. "Terrorism will not bring the Palestinian people closer to their long-deserved claim of the right to self-determination."
Arab nations, who called the meeting, circulated a draft resolution which called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities as well as a cessation to all acts of violence and terrorism.
But US envoy Mr James Cunningham made clear he was against any measure at this time and circulated yesterday's statements by Secretary of State Colin Powell.