International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, October 16, 2003

Dozens of nations opposed to Israel's security fence currently under construction called it the "racist colonial wall" and "expansionist conquest wall" during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Tuesday.

Many members said that Israel was overreacting to terrorist attacks against its citizens.

During a debate on the Middle East, members considered a Syrian-sponsored draft resolution calling the fence "illegal under relevant provisions of international law," and demanding that it be "ceased and reversed."

The resolution was expected to come to a vote last night or early today. An Oct. 5 draft resolution that condemns Israel's strike against a suspected Islamic Jihad training camp near Damascus is currently languishing in the council.

"Nothing can justify terrorism," said Spanish Ambassador Inocencio Arias, but, "These are all illegal activities, and what is worse, they are an activity which is increasingly harmful to any effort to bring peace to the region."

Syria and a host of Arab ambassadors who addressed the debate, naturally, had more severe criticism of Israel.

"Israel is indeed perpetrating war crimes and terrorism against Palestinian civilians, men, women and children," Syrian Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad said.

The PLO's permanent observer to the UN, Nasser al-Kidwa, said the fence is "worse than colonization and apartheid."

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman said international law allows states to take defensive measures and noted that the "West Bank" is disputed, not occupied, territory under international law.

"Dead, injured, and terrorized Israelis are also a humanitarian problem," he said.

He also said the fence will benefit ordinary Palestinians by reducing Israeli in Palestinian territory.

US Ambassador to the UN John Negroponte has said he will veto any Middle East resolution that does not condemn the terrorist groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

"Any resolution concerning the Middle East must take into account the larger picture, that of the current security situation, including the devastating suicide attacks that Israelis have had to endure over the past three years," Negroponte said.