U.N. Leader Accuses Israelis of Using Excessive Force in Unrest

Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar said Friday that Israeli forces have used excessive force to quell Palestinian unrest and urged the country to abide by an international convention protecting the rights of civilians under military occupation.

In a report to the U.N. Security Council, Perez de Cuellar appealed to Israel and the Palestinians in the occupied territories to “exercise restraint.” He also called for an international conference to work out a negotiated political settlement but added that the rigid positions of the Arab and Israeli sides will make negotiations “exceptionally difficult.”

Perez de Cuellar criticized the Israeli Defense Force for lack of expertise in riot control and the “disproportionate” use of the military that led to the killings of at least 36 Palestinian civilians since the unrest broke out Dec. 9.

Urges ‘Concerted Effort’

In a 16-page report, he said, “The international community should make a concerted effort to persuade Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the occupied territories and to correct its practices in order to comply fully with the convention,” he said.

The convention is to protect civilians from abuse by occupation forces and grants them the rights of freedom of speech and religion.

Israel has refused to implement the provision because it does not consider itself an occupation force in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territory it seized from Jordan and Egypt in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Asks Restraint

An international conference, under U.N. auspices, would include all parties in the conflict and a settlement should be based on resolutions calling for recognition of Israel as a state and the right of self-determination of Palestinians, Perez de Cuellar said.

In his report, Perez de Cuellar said he is aware of complexities facing the parties but appealed for both sides to exercise restraint “to bring about that change of attitude which will be necessary if a settlement is to be negotiated.”

Perez de Cuellar sent Under Secretary General Marrack Goulding, in charge of U.N. peacekeeping forces, to Israel earlier this month to prepare the report. Goulding returned Monday from his 10-day visit.