U.S. veto important

HOWARD KOHR

Once again, the United States has courageously vetoed a one-sided U.N. Security Council resolution on Israel. This time, the Palestinian-initiated draft condemned Israel for constructing its security fence and demanded that Israel dismantle existing segments of the barrier. If adopted, the resolution could have caused untold loss of life and grievously set back the prospects of a renewed peace process.

In casting the U.S. veto Oct. 14, U.N. Ambassador John Negroponte stated: "Any resolution concerning the Middle East must take into account the larger picture, that of the current security situation, including the devastating suicide attacks that Israelis have had to endure over the past three years."

Indeed, the fence is being built in direct response to Palestinian terror attacks against Israeli civilians, almost all of which have originated in the West Bank.

As the Israeli public well knows, since 1994 not a single suicide bomber has managed to cross the security fence built around the Gaza Strip. Virtually all of the more than 100 suicide bombers who succeeded in killing Israelis during the past three years came from the West Bank, as did approximately 600 would-be bombers who tried but failed to achieve their goal of murdering Israelis.

The public clamor to build a fence around the West Bank to stop the suicide bombers persuaded the Israeli government to do so.

Until the fence is completed, Palestinian terrorists will continue entering Israeli cities and blowing up innocent civilians with ease. If adopted, the demand to stop the fence's construction - let alone dismantle what has already been built - would doubtless have resulted in more bloodshed.

Israel's security fence, which Palestinians are so eager to tear down, will achieve another major objective. Once completed, it will deprive the Palestinian leadership of the option of using terrorism as a strategic weapon against Israel, which has been Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's long-time policy. More than anything else, Arafat's terrorism strategy has scuttled any prospects of resuming the peace process. Once that option is removed, a post-Arafat Palestinian leadership is likely to look seriously at the diplomatic route, paving the way for renewed peace talks with Israel.

By vetoing the fence resolution, the United States has saved innumerable lives and prevented the perpetration of immeasurable harm to the cause of peace. Virtually alone, our country continues to stand up to the malevolent forces that would destroy all hopes for progress.

Four U.N. Security Council members, Britain, Bulgaria, Cameroon and Germany, abstained from voting on the anti-fence draft resolution, which was introduced by Syria, and 10 members, Angola, Chile, China, France, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Spain and Syria, supported it.

Howard Kohr is executive director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

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