Hussein Attacks U.S. Veto of Israel Condemnation in U.N. : Washington Losing Mideast Credibility, Jordan King Says

King Hussein of Jordan attacked the United States today for its refusal to condemn Israel’s “iron-fist” clampdown on Palestinian protesters, saying Washington is losing credibility in the region.

He was referring to the U.S. veto Monday of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an end to violent Israeli suppression of riots in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“We were disturbed by the U.S. veto which was neither positive nor constructive, especially as it touches on Israeli moves against our families in the occupied territories,” the king told reporters after a 2 1/2-hour meeting with President Francois Mitterrand.

“We consider the position the United States has taken encourages inhuman behavior to our brothers in the occupied lands and reflects directly on American credibility.”

He also criticized the cool reception Washington gave last week to revived proposals for an international peace conference, made by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a separate tour of the West.

Pushing for Direct Talks

France backs the conference proposal, but the United States is pushing for direct talks between Israel and its Arab neighbors--an idea ruled out by most Arab states.

On Sunday, the Reagan Administration sent veteran envoy Philip C. Habib to Amman and then on a surprise visit to Mubarak in Paris to examine alternative ways of reviving the peace process.

Asked what he thought of Habib’s visit, Hussein answered: “We have to wait and see what happens.

“We would hope that what is happening in the occupied territories would make all parties recognize the dangers of inactivity and the need for fast constructive activity to solve the whole problem.”

Reacting to reports of an Israeli envoy’s arrival in Paris, the king said he had not received any messages from the Israeli government.

Death Toll Mounts to 19

Israel said earlier that Cabinet Secretary Eliakim Rubenstein was in Paris on a government mission but denied that the visit was linked with that of Hussein.

In Jerusalem, Israeli and Arab sources reported today that a 24-year-old Palestinian woman shot in the head by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Anabta on Monday died overnight. Her death brought the number killed by Israeli forces in the Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories to at least 39.

Israeli troops wounded at least nine more Palestinians in violent protests in several areas of the West Bank today and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir pledged support for militant Jewish settlers in the occupied lands.

Shamir traveled by helicopter to plant a symbolic olive tree at the barren hilltop settlement of Nili in the West Bank and declared: “Settlements in places such as this should strengthen, grow and prosper.”

Asked if he had a message for the Palestinians, he said: “To be quiet.”