Middle East: JAck Straw Demands Israeli Withdrawal Without Delay

9April 2002

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said:

'Israel's response to the demands of the international community for an early withdrawal from the Palestinian areas is not good enough. The limited withdrawal Israel has announced falls short of the requirements of UN Security Council Resolutions 1402 and 1403.

'Like every other country, Israel has a right to security, but the Israeli government must respect international law, including international humanitarian law.

'President Arafat too should make every effort to achieve an immediate ceasefire. I have urged him repeatedly to clamp down on the extremists.'

Britain's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, said on Radio 4's Today programme this morning:

'I think everybody understands that the political and moral authority of the United Nations is not to be cast aside lightly or to be trodden on lightly.

For all the sympathy we have for Israel's proper security, Israel must respect international law, including international humanitarian law, or it does the very character of a democratic Israeli society a great deal of damage.'