LOC20:36
17:36 GMT
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6 (KUNA) -- For the second time in less than a month
and on the second anniversary of its offensive against Gaza, Israel on
Thursday warned it would escalate the conflict in the Gaza Strip if the
international community does not condemn Hamas launch of rockets and mortars
against its territory.
Israel will deal with it "seriously" and reject it as "unacceptable,"
Israeli envoy to the UN Meron Reuben said.
In a letter to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council President
issued earlier today, Reuben noted "with the intention of preventing the
continued escalation of conflict, the Security Council, the Secretary General
and the international community must send a clear and resolute message that
these attacks are unacceptable."
He added that the Council must give "appropriate attention" to the
smuggling of arms into Gaza, which "continues to fuel violence and instability
in our region."
He recalled in his letter a previous letter he had sent to both addressees
December 9, 2010, urging them to view the escalation of Hamas rocket and
mortar attacks on southern Israel "with the utmost seriousness" as they
"threaten peace and stability in our region."
"The incidents of the past several days are part of an escalation of
terrorist attacks emanating from Gaza that target Israeli civilians, towns and
military personnel. Israel holds the de facto authority in the Gaza Strip
completely responsible for all of these incidents... In response to such
attacks, Israel has exercised and will continue to exercise its right to
self-defense," he warned.
The Israeli letter coincides with an Arab move initiated this week with
Council members to adopt a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activities
in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
In the meantime, it has been reported that the militant Islamist Jihad
group said it is prepared for war with Israel, whereas Hamas threatened last
month it will "surprise" Israel with a secret undisclosed weapon it said it
has in its possession.
Also, Egypt's President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak today warned visiting
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm
El-Sheikh against launching a new war on Gaza, noting the "danger the latest
Israeli threats and their repercussions will have on the stability and
security of the region and the cause of the Middle East peace process". (end)
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KUNA 062036 Jan 11NNNN