U.S. vetoes Israel vote

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 10

U.S. vetoes Israel vote

NZPA-Reuter New York The United States vetoed yesterday a resolution in the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel for intercepting and forcing to land a Libyan aircraft that it said was suspected of carrying a wanted guerrilla leader. Australia, Britain, Denmark and France ; abstained. Ten members voted for it. After several hours’ detention on Wednesday, the plane completed its trip to Damascus. Israel said the passengers were nine Syrians and Lebanese returning from a meeting in Tripoli called to discuss United American sanctions against Libya and that the wanted person, not identified, was not on board. Syria took the issue to the United Nations. In a

statement to the council Libya asserted that the Grumman Gulfstream jet could not have been intercepted without help from monitors in the United States 6th . Fleet.oin. the Mediterranean, •.-ch) All three resolutions submitted to the council this- year have been vetoed by the United States. The two other resolutions concerned Israeli actions in southern Lebanon and in Jerusalem. The United States Ambassador, Lieutenant-Gen-eral Vernon Walters, said the United States deplored Israel’s action in this case. But it believed the ability to take such action In carefully defined circumstances was part 1 of the inherent right of self-de-fence under the United Nations Charter.