The Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, was the only possible interlocutor for Israel in political dialogue but he could not fulfil this role if subjected to "acts of gratuitous insult and humiliation", Ireland's UN Ambassador, Mr Richard Ryan, has told the Security Council.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the Council on the Middle East crisis, Mr Ryan also said Ireland "utterly condemns" terrorist atrocities against Israeli civilians. "No solution can be found through terrorism or any other form of violence, or through military action," he said.
"Ireland regards the current Israeli military actions, including in Ramallah, as deeply dangerous and unwise. Whatever the provocations, they only serve to exacerbate bitterness and alienation among the Palestinian people.
"President Arafat is and will remain the only possible interlocutor for Israel in any process of dialogue leading to an end to violence and negotiations on a political settlement. He cannot fulfil this role if he is not allowed to fulfil it, by acts of gratuitous insult and humiliation, and by his enforced physical isolation."
He pointed out that the Taoiseach had issued a statement appealing to both sides to pull back from conflict and calling for an end to violence and terror as well as Israeli "harassment" of President Arafat. He informed the Council that Mr Ahern had conveyed this position to the Palestinian leader in a telephone conversation.
Mr Ryan said it was "impossible to exaggerate the gravity of the current situation" which was a fundamental threat to international peace and security and to the wellbeing and security of the peoples in the region.
"Acts of violence, terror and the excessive use of military force have created a vicious cycle of violence and counter-violence, reprisal and counter-reprisal. It is perfectly clear that the parties are now trapped and cannot emerge without outside help."
He concluded: "The wider international community must leave no action untaken in helping to end a path that can only lead to catastrophe and in helping the parties to begin again the process of dialogue and negotiations."
Ireland was one of 14 members of the Security Council, including the US, which supported a resolution sponsored by Norway which "Calls upon both parties to move immediately to a meaningful ceasefire; calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah; and calls upon the parties to cooperate fully with \ Special Envoy Zinni, and others, to implement the Tenet security work plan as a first step towards implementation of the Mitchell Committee recommendations, with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement". The 15th member of the Council, Syria, absented itself during the vote: an unusual move by a council member.
The Council began informal consultations on the Middle East crisis at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon, with Norway, which holds the presidency this month, occupying the chair. Syria, backed by non-Council members Qatar and Jordan as well as the Palestinian observer group at the UN, called for a formal emergency meeting on the events in Ramallah. This request was granted.
A draft text for a resolution was prepared by the Palestinians but Syria could not support it despite the efforts of other Arab countries acting as intermediaries. As with the recent Resolution l397 on the establishment of a Palestinian state, the US then took what many considered a "bold" initiative and came up with a text of its own, said to be quite close in content to the Palestinian draft.
However, the Syrians were reportedly unhappy with references to the Tenet and Mitchell peace plans and to Resolution 1397 and were also anxious to have a reference to the decisions of the recent Arab League summit in Beirut.
Finally, Norway proposed a resolution which again the Syrians could not accept. Both Syria and the Palestinian group were concerned that the new resolution would be interpreted as calling for a ceasefire ahead of Israeli troop withdrawal. However, those present at the meeting including the US reportedly said this was not the case. Before the vote was taken on Resolution 1402, at about 4.30 a.m., the Norwegian delegate, Mr Peter Kolby, speaking as Council President, said it was the "common understanding" of the Council members that the text "does not indicate any sequence of the elements listed". The resolution was passed by 14 votes with Syria absenting itself. However, an Israeli representative claimed later that a sequence was, in fact, implied in the resolution. Condemning acts of violence on both sides, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, told the meeting: "Destroying the Palestinian Authority will not bring Israel closer to peace." He said he had consistently voiced criticism over Israel's use of disproportionate lethal force, especially in civilian populated areas in response to terrorist attacks. "Such use of force will bring neither peace nor security to Israel," he said.
He said he understood the anger of the Israeli Government and people over those "horrific terrorist" acts, which, he said, were aimed at undermining any prospect for a political settlement.