By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, July 11, more here -- The UN Security Council was said by some to be ready at 9:30 pm on July 11 to put out a press statement on Palestine, after several rounds of back and forth.
Not only Inner City Press was told this, but also Al Arabiya and France 24 / An-Nahar. But then after Inner City Press specified the timing -- and the stated theory that the US gave in after an emergency session of the Arab Group at the UN moved toward a resolution that the US would have to veto -- something changed.
This month's Security Council president's Deputy Permanent Representative stepped forward, on Twitter, to say that "No Council member has received any draft statement on Gaza this evening."
And a quick check by Inner City Press resulted in a response that the US then delayed putting the draft under the "silence procedure" - and the four-paragraph draft, exclusively published by Inner City Press here:
“The Security Council expresses serious concern regarding the crisis related to Gaza and the protection and welfare of civilians on both sides.
“The Security Council members called for de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm, and reinstitution of the November 2012 ceasefire.
“Security Council members further called for respect for International Humanitarian Law, including the protection of civilians.
“Security Council members also expressed their support for resumption of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of achieving a comprehensive peace agreement based on the two-state solution.”
Informed sources told Inner City Press that while the US, or "Washington," initially said they would accept no Security Council action at this point, once an emergency meeting of the Arab Group moved for a draft resolution, the US changed tack.
"The US doesn't want to have to veto, so they can continue to point the finger at Russia and China on Syria," as one source put it. So the US agreed - or was said to agree -- to a press statement calling for a ceasefire.
The source went on "If Israel disregards it and continues, what will the Council do?" What, indeed. But then, a pull back, and still the draft above not formally circulated to other Security Council members.
Consider this, then, informal circulation of the draft...
The source went on "If Israel disregards it and continues, what will the Council do?" What, indeed. But then, a pull back, and still the draft above not formally circulated to other Security Council members.
Consider this, then, informal circulation of the draft...
Earlier on July 11 with the UN Security Council having taken no action on Palestine and Israel, the day after an "urgent" meeting featuring each state's ambassador, on July 11 the Non Aligned Movement issued a statement, which Inner City Press put online here.
On July 10 in the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that “eighty-eight Palestinians, many of them civilians, are reported to have been killed, and 339 injured.”
Afterward at the Security Council stakeout but off-camera, Palestine's Riyad Manour said the figure is over 90, in the last three days.
Now on July 11, the number is over 100.
Inside the Council on July 10, Israel's Ron Prosor told Ban that while he had given his speech, five rockets had been fired at Israel (Prosor played a rocket warning siren on his phone, to make his point.) At the stakeout, on-camera, Prosor raised the number of rockets to six.
While Mansour spoke on camera, the stakeout was nearly full with journalists. But when Prosor spoke there were far fewer -- one of whom told Inner City Press, “This is a question for FUNCA,” the Free UN Coalition for Access. Again Prosor played the rocket siren warning, and used the line “From Abuja to Falluja.”
Inner City Press asked Prosor about those who say Hamas is not formally part of the unity government; he replied, “Hamas is Hamas.”
On Palestine joining or complaining to the International Criminal Court, Inner City Press' question which Ban Ki-moon dodged on July 9, Prosor did not answer. Yet.
Security Council members did not speak in the public session; they went behind closed doors. Will they emerge with a press statement? Elements to the press? Sound effects? Watch this site.
