Steps Following the Dissolution of the Fact-Finding Mission

Following the decision of Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to cancel the visit of the fact-finding mission to the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin, members of the Security Council, who are divided on this issue, are discussing the next steps. By late Wednesday, the Security Council was engaged in discussions that members described as very lengthy and difficult. Diplomats say Arab countries are calling for the adoption of a new resolution that would allow the Council to take action against Israel for its refusal to cooperate with the fact-finding mission. The Secretary-General of the United Nations stated in the Security Council that he has dissolved the 20-member fact-finding mission that was waiting in Geneva because Israel was unwilling to cooperate. Israel had objections regarding the composition and scope of the fact-finding mission. The United States expressed regret over the cancellation of this mission, which was established with American assistance, but supports Kofi Annan's decision to dissolve the mission and cancel the fact-finding efforts. Palestinians claim that Israeli forces committed a massacre of Palestinian civilians in the refugee camp in Jenin. Israel denies this allegation, stating that during the assault on Jenin, there were only intense clashes between its forces and Palestinian terrorists. The Secretary-General of the United Nations wrote in his letter to the Security Council that he regrets the dissolution of the fact-finding mission because the shadow cast over recent events in Jenin will remain. Mr. Annan stated that the situation in Jenin is changing day by day, and understanding exactly what happened there is becoming increasingly difficult.