Terror Attack on Israelis Condemned

Over Syrian objections, the U.N. Security Council on Friday condemned last month’s “acts of terror” against Israeli targets in Kenya and deplored the claims of responsibility by the Al Qaeda terrorist network.

By a vote of 14 to 1, the council urged all 191 U.N. members “to cooperate in efforts to find and bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these terrorist attacks.” It was a rare show of support for Israel from the Security Council.

Ten Kenyans, three Israelis and three bombers died Nov. 28 when a vehicle packed with explosives plowed into the Paradise hotel, north of Mombasa. Minutes before the blast, two missiles were fired at an Arkia Airlines aircraft as it was taking off with Israeli tourists returning to Tel Aviv. The missiles narrowly missed the jet.

Syria’s U.N. ambassador, Mikhail Wehbe, said his government condemned the attacks but could not accept Israel’s being linked to efforts to combat terrorism while “ignoring the terrorism the Israelis are committing daily, and particularly against the Palestinian people.”

Israel’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Aaron Jacob, expressed regret at Syria’s objection, saying that “the target of the attacks in Mombasa, Kenya, were clearly Israelis.” Wehbe said the council was exercising a double standard. He stressed that the U.N. had named no countries in resolutions condemning the October nightclub bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali that killed 191 people or a hostage-taking attack on a Moscow theater that claimed 129 lives.

U.S. Ambassador John D. Negroponte said Washington insisted on including Israel because it was clearly the target of the Kenya attacks.