The Palestinian Authority has expressed disappointment at Ireland's abstention from a UN Security Council vote on creating an international observer force in the West Bank and Gaza.
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The vote was 9-1 with four abstentions and Ukraine not voting. In favor were Bangladesh, Colombia, Jamaica, Mali, Mauritius, Singapore, Tunisia, Russia and China. Ireland abstained with Britain, France and Norway.
The United States used its veto power last night to stifle the resolution.
Mr Asif Safeh, the Palestinian Authority's representative in Britain, told ireland.comtoday the Palestinians had accepted a watered-down resolution on the understanding that a compromise formula would be backed by the European nations on the Security Council.
"In the end the Europeans sought not to support their own ideas," Mr Safeh said.
He said: "The European countries had caved in to US obstructionism and Israeli intransigence."
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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, told
ireland.com
the resolution was "totally impractical" as it did not have the agreement of both sides.
Mr Safeh said this is tantamount to giving Israel a veto. He said: "Given Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people, naturally it would seek as little international intervention as possible."
He said the lack of intervention was "condemning the Palestinian people to perpetual enslavement and occupation by Israel".
Mr Cowen said: "Ireland will continue to take the initiative in urging both parties to pursue initiatives to promote peace."
