United Nations, Oct 21: Maintaining that construction of a security wall by Israel in the occupied territories cannot be justified, India has asked Tel Aviv to consider humanitarian consequences of its action and stop going ahead with building of the barrier. "While we understand the legitimate rights of states to self-defence, Israel's unilateral action cannot be justified," Indian delegate Saleem Iqbal Shervani, MP, told the 191-member United Nations General Assembly yesterday.
He also "strongly" deplored Israeli air strikes deep inside Syrian territory on October 05, describing them as "violation of the sovereignty of Syria's territorial integrity."
"Unfortunately, some recent acts of the government of Israel have not assisted the cause of peace," he said participating a debate on the two resolutions moved by the Palestinians seeking the UN's condemnation of Israel's action of building the wall and world body's opinion on its legality.
Shervani condemned the attack on a United States diplomatic convoy in Gaza recently in which three Americans were killed and commended palestinian authorities for their swift action in attempting to bring the suspects to book.
"We are confident that such actions would bear results all round," he said.
Shervani warned Israel that its insistence in continuing with the construction would be "widely interpreted as an attempt to predetermine the outcome of any final status negotiations" with Palestinians.
Bureau Report