"We were not able to reach consensus on that text," said British Ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the council president. "Discussions continue in informal consultations and that text remains on the table."

Arab envoys said most of the 15 council members supported the draft, which includes a call for an end to violence and "acts of terror," but that conditions put down by the United States were unacceptable. Diplomats said members opposed a vote at this time if the United States would use its veto power.

In a change of tactics, US Ambassador John Negroponte told the council last week that any future resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis would have to condemn the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, the Islamic Jihad and Hamas, groups that have claimed responsibility for suicide attacks in Israel.

He also said the council had to demand improvement of the security situation as a condition for any call for a withdrawal of Israeli armed forces to positions they held before the September 2000 start of the latest Palestinian uprising that has cost the lives of 1,467 Palestinians and 564 Israelis.

A Palestinian delegate, speaking on condition of anonymity, said putting off a withdrawal of Israeli troops meant that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon could maintain an open-ended occupation and decide when security was right for Israel.

She said Arab delegates also objected to naming the three groups without at the same time citing specifically "state terrorism" and acts of violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.

Nasser al-Kidwa, the Palestinian UN observer, said earlier that the Arab draft "was designed to strike a very reasonable consensus" and suggested Negroponte "either doesn't want agreement or is being completely unreasonable" and "doesn't want action by the Security Council."

Arab nations first put forward the draft resolution last Wednesday, a day after an Israeli air strike killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza City, including nine children and a wanted Hamas leader.

The text demands the "withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities" to positions held before September 2000.

It expresses concern at the "extrajudicial execution" in Gaza City and alarm at Israel's reoccupation of Palestinian cities. The document calls for an end to all violence, military action and "acts of terror" and appeals to all sides to cooperate fully in efforts to resume peace talks.

(China Daily July 31, 2002)