U.N. Delays Voting On Israeli Aggression On Syria

Israel alleged that it struck a military base in the region, which was used by the Palestinian resistance movement the Islamic Jihad, which claimed Haifa operation that killed 20 people and injured scores.

"Consultations will take place as soon as possible," U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, the council current president, told reporters after the session, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

He, however, set no date for the resumption of the meeting, arguing that, in the U.S. point of view, no new United Nations Security Council resolution was needed at this point.

He further stepped up the hostile rhetoric against Syria.

"What is needed is for Syria to dismantle the terrorism in its borders," the U.S. envoy said.

Syria introduced a draft resolution on Sunday that "strongly condemns the military aggression carried by Israel against the sovereignty and territory of the Syrian Arab Republic … in violation of the charter of the United Nations, the rules and principles of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions."

The draft also calls on the Security Council to declare the attack a violation of the 1974 treaty and to demand Israel not to act in a way that threatens regional security.

Israel defended the strike as a legitimate act of self-defense against a state that supports "terrorists."

Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Dan Gillerman, criticized the council for rushing into session on the eve of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur (or the Day of Atonement), while ignoring repeated Palestinian attacks on Israel, calling it a "double standard" that puts the world body’s credibility at risk.

"There are few better exhibits of state sponsorship of terrorism then the one provided by the Syrian regime," Gillerman said.

But Syrian Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad said he was heartened by the fact that most members of the Security Council condemned the Israeli raid in their speeches.

He said Syria did not insist on an immediate vote in order to give delegates time to consult with their respective governments.

Alert

Meanwhile, Syria’s official press said Monday, October 6, that Damascus called on the Syrian leadership to be at maximum alert "in the face of an enemy who seeks escalation and commits terrorist acts."

Al-Baath, the daily of Syria’s ruling Baath party, said, "Israel is killing and destroying in defiance of international law, because it is assured of American protection."

"Yesterday’s aggression by aircraft of the Zionist enemy inside Syrian territory calls for a strengthening of the struggle, because it shows once again that Israel will continue its aggressive policy," it added.

Al-Baath said that "Syria reaffirms its strategic choice of a fair and comprehensive peace based on international resolutions the principle of land for peace."

But it warned that "peace is impossible without the return of Arab rights."

The government newspaper Tishrin said, "Syria’s military forces led by President Bashar Al-Assad must be prepared in the face of an enemy who seeks escalation and commits terrorist acts".

The air strike was the deepest military strike by Israel inside Syria since the October War 30 years ago, in which Israel was defeated by the Egyptian army.

The area was sealed off by Syrian authorities and reporters and photographers stopped from entering. Damascus said the attack hit a civilian area, causing material damage.