Indonesia abstains from UN resolution on Gaza vote

The Jakarta Post | Sat, 01/18/2009 6:15 PM | National

Indonesia chose to abstain from voting on a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip in New York City late Friday.

Indonesian Ambassador to the UN Marty Natalegawa said the resolution did not go far enough "in condemning Israel" for its attacks, AFP reported.

In a non-binding amended resolution, the 192 members of the UNGA demanded "full respect" of a Security Council resolution adopted last week calling for "an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces" from Gaza.

Security Council resolution 1860 also called for the "unimpeded provision and distribution throughout the Gaza Strip of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment."

The assembly vote, which came after hours of procedural wrangling, saw 142 members vote in favor with three against and nine abstentions, according to a revised vote count. Assembly president Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann earlier said the vote was 142 in favor, six against with eight abstentions.

Natalegawa said the resolution failed to "explicitly say to Israel that enough is enough. End your violence and get out of Gaza".

Marty said a revision of the draft resolution, particularly in reference to the third paragraph, made the UNGA powerless in identifying the main perpetrators responsible for the humanitarian crisis. (and)