The Hindu : 'Arafat removal plan indefensible in law'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

International

International

'Arafat removal plan indefensible in law'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON SEPT. 16. India has joined the international community in urging Israel to exercise restraint with respect to any plan it may have that could affect adversely the safety and the personal freedom of the Palestinian leader,Yasser Arafat, or forcibly remove him from his present position.

At the open meeting in the United Nations Security Council on the Palestine issue, India's Permanent Representative, Vijay Nambiar, said that at the same time India "condemns all acts of terrorism and violence and reiterates its position that there can be no justification whatsoever for attacks against unarmed civilians, women and children."

"India has consistently regarded President Arafat as the elected leader of the Palestinian people and symbol of their cause. His expulsion and removal from the scene would be indefensible in international law. It represents an affront to the Palestinian people as well as the international community at large and must attract the severest condemnation worldwide," Mr. Nambiar said.

On Monday the Security Council, at an Open Meeting, heard from several member states the developments in West Asia as it pertained to the Palestinian problem; and the Council members had an informal meeting on a draft resolution put forth by Syria. A vote could come once the proposed amendments to the draft text are agreed upon.

Arguing that expulsion and removal of Mr. Arafat would exacerbate the situation and could prove politically counter-productive. Mr. Nambiar said it "would definitely have a negative impact" on the West Asia peace process.

"Israel remains oblivious of the limitations of its uni-dimensional policy based on a military approach that relies on the might of its forces without recourse to a concomitant political approach. Its policy of military blockades, curfews and restrictions perpetuate continued dislocation of normal life, economic deprivation and loss of freedom and further demoralisation of the Palestinian people," Mr. Nambiar said.

"This has led, inevitably, to continuing acts of violence and retribution against Israeli forces and civilians," he said.

"Israel has an obligation to exercise self restraint and patience. It has resorted increasingly to extreme measures such as extra judicial killings and armed incursions into the Palestinian areas. We are not unaware of the provocations Israel itself has been subjected to. But its decision to persevere with the construction of a wall that cuts across a wide swath of Palestinian land, annexes agricultural areas, destroys dwellings and separates families, is both unjust and illegal."

India has reiterated the need for both sides to fulfil obligations under the road map of the Quartet — the United Nations, the United States, European Union and Russia — and has strongly emphasised that every effort should be made to ensure the implementation so that the vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognised borders can be realised.

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