Arabs push U.N. resolution demanding Gaza cease-fire

UNITED NATIONS — Arab nations floated a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution Tuesday calling for an immediate end to combat in the Gaza Strip and deployment of an international force to monitor a cease-fire and protect Palestinian civilians.

The draft, seen by The Associated Press, made no mention of a key demand of Israel and its main ally, the United States, for border monitors to destroy tunnels that Hamas has used to smuggle rockets and other weapons into Gaza since seizing control of the territory in June 2007.

The text was being discussed privately as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and foreign ministers from key Arab nations, the United States, Britain and France arrived for a Security Council meeting on the conflict late Tuesday.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Abbas told Arab diplomats the Palestinians want the council to adopt a resolution demanding a cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza "as soon as possible, preferably today." Malki said diplomats were doing their best to reach a consensus among the 15 council members.

The proposed resolution calls for an "immediate and sustainable" cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the opening of all Gaza's border crossings and the restoration of a 2005 agreement under which European Union officials monitored the Rafah terminal on the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent smuggling.

The text also calls for deployment of international observers to monitor a cease-fire, protect Palestinian civilians and enhance the process of restoring calm.

It further urges more humanitarian aid for Gazans and an acceleration of efforts to achieve a lasting Middle East accord that would result in Israel and Palestine living peacefully as separate, independent states.

Much of the U.N. diplomatic activity was taking place behind closed doors. Abbas met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country holds the Security Council presidency this month. Kouchner also talked with Arab foreign ministers.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived in the afternoon, also scheduled meetings with key players.

Kouchner told reporters after meeting with the Arab ministers that a lot of "hard work" would be needed to reach agreement on a cease-fire resolution, "but we'll do it."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the fighting Tuesday with President George W. Bush and Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and all three stressed that a lasting cease-fire would not be possible without the prevention of weapons smuggling into Gaza, Merkel's government said.