New York, NY, November 13, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised the United States for vetoing a misguided U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for the death of Palestinians in Beit Hanun in the Gaza Strip.  The Qatar-sponsored resolution, which would have criticized Israel's entire military operation in Gaza, was supported by ten members of the Security Council, with the U.K., Denmark, Japan and Slovakia abstaining.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

It is long past time for the Security Council to be considering one-sided resolutions focusing on Israel and failing to address terrorism and the violence against Israel promoted by Hamas.  Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, providing the Palestinians with an opportunity to pursue peace and autonomy.  Instead, Hamas terrorists continued to fire rockets into Israel and, as all nations have the right to do, Israel re-entered Gaza in its self defense.
 
Civilian deaths during wartime are always tragic and the accidental deaths in Beit Hanun, for which Israel has expressed its apologies and condolences, are no exception.  The blame for the circumstances that forced Israel to defend itself, however, rests squarely on the shoulders of Hamas and their supporters who continue to choose war over peace.

We commend the Administration for its continued strong commitment to preventing unbalanced Security Council resolutions from making the task of achieving a peaceful outcome between the parties more difficult.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.