France and the United States are preparing a new version of the draft UN
resolution on the Middle East crisis after a former draft was rejected by
Lebanon, according to France's UN envoy.
After meeting an Arab League delegation on the Middle East crisis at the UN
headquarters, France's UN envoy Jean-Marc de La Sabliere revealed that the new
text would take into consideration concerns of all parties and hoped the new
version would be approved by the end of this week.
The draft resolution will be improved and it is important to hold discussions
with the Arab League and the Lebanese, the UN envoy said, adding the text had to
be approved by Israel as well.
The draft resolution, presented to the 15-member Security Council by the
United States and France last Saturday, calls for "a full cessation of
hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of
all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military
operations."
The draft was opposed by Lebanon and Arab nations, which said it failed to
call for a withdrawal of some 10,000 Israeli troops from Lebanon's territory.
France and the United States said on Monday that they might consider making
changes to their draft UN resolution, which Russiaalso voiced firm opposition
due to fear for an escalation of the conflict and more violence.