Agencies

UNITED NATIONS/DAMASCUS, 7 October 2003 — Syria yesterday demanded that the UN Security Council condemn Israel’s airstrike against a Palestinian camp near Damascus, but the United States said it would not support any resolution that does not also criticize attacks against Israel.

At an emergency meeting called at Syria’s request on Sunday, most Council diplomats spoke out against both the airstrike and the bombing in the port city of Haifa that killed 19 people and prompted Israel’s retaliation.

However, US Ambassador John Negroponte focused his condemnation on the Haifa attack, while blaming Syria for harboring Palestinian hard-liners.

Arab diplomats met here yesterday to discuss Syria’s draft UN resolution condemning the Israeli air raid. A US diplomat said the UN Security Council could discuss the matter later, but no voting was scheduled.

As the Syrian streets showed signs of anger and frustration, the United States barred diplomats from official travel to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and Syria.

The US Embassy in Beirut said: “Due to Oct. 5 events in Syria, the US Embassy in Beirut has suspended for 72 hours official travel to the Bekaa Valley, including land crossings to Syria, and to the UNIFIL area of operations in south Lebanon, while we re-evaluate the security situation.”

Syrians yesterday called for reprisals and many said they were even more enraged by the US reaction.

“I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard. I wish I was there with a shotgun in my hand,” said Maher Awad, a taxi driver.

Awad echoed others who hoped for a military response to the airstrike.

“I hope we will send our eagles (war pilots) to show them what Syrians can do,” said Jamal, a student waving his fist in the air. “This man (Negroponte) was talking as if he owns the world telling us we are terrorists. Did he forget what (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon did in Sabra and Shatila (refugee camps)?,” said Abou Qassem, an elderly man.

“There is no sense of right and wrong anymore,” Abou Qassem said. “Those Americans and Israelis think they are strong but they forget that God is the strongest.”

Eman, a housewife, said she was scared after the raid that her children are not safe.

She was the only one to voice fear among a dozen people interviewed in Damascus, but her concern was echoed at Palestinian camps in Beirut. “The Israeli monster is out of control now. It has gone crazy,” said Walid, 24, a resident of Borj Al-Barajneh camp. “All Palestinians abroad are targets now.”