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Funding of Palestinian Propaganda By UN "Unacceptable," Bolton Says

(New York Sun) Jacob Gershman - UN funding of a Palestinian Arab propaganda campaign timed to coincide with Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip has increased tensions between the UN and American officials. America's newly installed ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, labeled "inappropriate and unacceptable" the UN Development Program financing of materials bearing the slogan "Today Gaza, Tomorrow the West Bank and Jerusalem." William Orme, a spokesman for the UNDP, said Wednesday, "We've seen Ambassador Bolton's comments, and we are taking this matter seriously." Hamas's top official, Khaled Meshaal, Wednesday echoed the theme: "Gaza is the first liberation, then comes the West Bank, then every inch of Palestinian land." "We are at the beginning of the road, and we have not and will not give up our weapons. The battle is not over," Meshaal said while standing in front of a poster reading: "Today Gaza, Tomorrow Jerusalem." Hamas's embrace of the slogan reinforced the fear of Jewish and Israeli leaders that the message would undermine peace efforts and provoke more violence. The head of the Palestinian UNDP program, Timothy Rothermel, said the slogan is "consistent with the relevant UN resolutions and Security Council resolutions about the status of Palestine."
2005-08-19 00:00:00
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