http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1974000/1974389.stm

UN condemns Israel over Jenin

The UN called for a report into Israel's campaign


By Rob Watson
BBC Washington correspondent


The United Nations General Assembly has passed a
resolution condemning Israel's military action in the
West Bank's Jenin refugee camp.

The assembly also called on Secretary General Kofi
Annan to resurrect his report into the Israeli offensive.

Fewer states than expected supported the move, which
passed by 74 votes to four, with 54 abstentions, hours after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 15 people in an attack in
Israel.

The vote followed a typical General Assembly debate, with Arab and many other nations lining up to criticise Israel and its American backers.

The Palestinian
representative said Israel
was guilty of wilful killing of
civilians and the US of
shielding the Jewish state from any serious UN action.

South Africa's ambassador accused Israel of eroding the
credibility of the UN through its defiance of international
law.

Resolution 'offensive'

Speaking just before the late-night vote, Israel's
representative said the General Assembly would be
offending the memories of those killed by Palestinian
suicide bombers, including the latest victims in the
attack near Tel Aviv.

Earlier, the US ambassador had warned that one-sided
resolutions and rhetoric would only harm the Palestinian
cause.

After a complex vote the resolution was adopted,
though with many abstentions, reflecting the concerns
of European and other nations at the resolution's failure
to condemn suicide bombings.

Although General Assembly resolutions are not legally
binding, the secretary general is likely to comply in
some way with its request for a report.

In the end though, the debate changed little - the
arguments on both sides already well rehearsed and
well know