U.N. Security Council Approves Mideast Measure The United States decided not to veto a Security Council resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities, clearing the way for its passage early Tuesday and handing a diplomatic victory to the Palestinians.

The resolution, which passed 14-0 with America abstaining, was negotiated by the European Union and cobbled together with language from competing U.S. and Arab proposals.

``The resolution that we've adopted this evening was flawed in our view in that it failed to explicitly condemn the terrorist groups and those who provide them with political cover, support and safe haven in perpetuating conflict in the Middle East,'' Deputy U.S. ambassador James Cunningham said.

But the vote was a victory for the Palestinians and their Syrian backers on the 15-member Security Council.

Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh called the vote ``a step in the right direction.''

``I believe this abstention from the United States is a clear criticism of Israel and its actions on the ground and reveals their dissatisfaction with Israel and its measures.''

The Palestinians have failed several times to secure a resolution since violence broke out in the Middle East in September 2000. The United States, one of five permanent council members with veto power, blocked a similar Palestinian resolution in December.

The United States had threatened to do so again but ultimately abstained on Tuesday when some of the language it had sought -- condemning terrorist attacks and bringing the perpetrators to justice -- was inserted into the final text.

The approved resolution ``demands that Israel immediately cease measures in and around Ramallah, including the destruction of Palestinian civilian and security infrastructure.''

It further demands ``the withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities toward the return to positions held prior to September 2000.''

The resolution also ``calls on the Palestinian Authority to meet its expressed commitment to ensure that those responsible for terrorist acts are brought to justice,'' and it reiterates a demand for the cessation of all acts of violence.

When it became clear late Monday that the Palestinians were going to push for a vote on their text, the United States submitted its own proposal to condemn the suicide bombings, name Islamic Jihad and Hamas as the responsible parties and call for the two militant groups to be treated as terrorist organizations under the provisions of an anti-terrorism resolution passed after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Using unusually harsh language to criticize Israel, the U.S. draft also expressed grave concern for Israel's actions at Arafat's compound which ``aggravate the situation and ... do not contribute to progress on comprehensive Palestinian civil and security reforms.''
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