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| Posted to the web on: 25 April 2008 "SA ‘regrets’ snub at UN over Gaza" Diplomatic Editor Full article on the Web at: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A756338 THE government yesterday expressed regret that there had been a walkout in the closed meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council chaired by SA following an attempt to have the council comment on the humanitarian security situation in the Middle East. The US, France and Britain walked out of a debate on the Middle East on Wednesday after Libya compared the situation in the Gaza Strip to Nazi “concentration camps". Xolisa Mabhongo, chief director of multilateral affairs, said a proposal was presented by the Libyan delegation that was not acceptable to some members of the council. This was after the UN secretariat had tabled a report on the effect of the Israeli military siege of Gaza, the manipulation of fuel supplies and attacks on fuel depots, on the already grave situation. The UN report warned that if Israel did not reverse its policies, the UN would be forced to discontinue its food assistance to 650000 Palestinian refugees as well as its garbage collection for 500000 people in Gaza. It said the lack of fuel had also had an adverse impact on water supplies and sanitation and there were obvious health risks associated with the flow of untreated sew age into the Mediterranean . Israel also continued to refuse the UN permission, despite its assurances to the contrary, to allow the delivery of materials for UN humanitarian infrastructure projects in the Palestinian territories.... ________________________________ |
