US backs Israel over observers

The Palestinians have been asking for observers for months

A senior Palestinian official has urged the United Nations to do more to end fighting in the Middle East, as the Security Council discusses whether to send international observers to the region.

But the United States backed Israel in opposing a Palestinian proposal to send observers, making it very unlikely that the UN Security Council would get involved.

International observers cannot intercept suicide bombers

Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry

Separately, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer arrived in the region for three days of talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other officials.

Israeli forces and Palestinians exchanged fire in some half a dozen places across the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Monday. Palestinian sources said seven Palestinians were wounded.

Palestinian call

Backed by Islamic nations at the UN, Palestinians renewed their appeal for international protection.

A young Palestinian makes his point on an Israeli flag

Palestinian delegate Nasser al-Kidwa said it was "difficult to believe and impossible to justify" what he called the Security Council's lack of action.

The BBC's Greg Barrow at the UN says the Palestinians have been circulating a draft resolution more moderate in tone than previous motions put before the Security Council.

But, he says, it still calls for some form of monitoring, which the Israelis reject.

Israeli Ambassador Yehuda Lancry said an international observer force "cannot dismantle the bomb factories ... cannot intercept suicide bombers ... cannot stop snipers and mortar fire".

With the veto-wielding US opposed to an international presence, the council debate is unlikely to produce any concrete initiative.

The US has said it does not think taking the matter up with the Security Council is the right approach at the moment.

'Not effective'

Acting US Ambassador James Cunningham said Washington "question[s] the appropriateness and effectiveness of any action here in New York".

Israelis bulldozed several buildings on Monday

Still, observers believe, the debate may increase the pressure on Washington to take a more active role to try to pull both sides back from the brink.

Recent Israeli actions, such as its assassination policy and army incursions into Palestinian areas, have attracted widespread international criticism.

Palestinian suicide bomb attacks on Israelis have also been strongly condemned.

Germany's Mr Fischer held a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on Monday after arriving from Cairo.

The German foreign minister happened to be in Israel when 21 Israelis were killed in the suicide bombing of a Tel Aviv disco in June.

'New ideas'

He referred to being "very interested in the new ideas of Foreign Minister Peres", but would not go into specifics.

Mourners grieve at the funeral of Samir Abu Zayd

The Israeli press has suggested that Mr Peres is pushing for a phased ceasefire, an effort to establish calm area by area rather than throughout the region simultaneously.

Hundreds of Palestinians mourned activist Samir Aby Zayd in the Gaza Strip on Monday. He and his two young children were killed in an explosion on Sunday.

Palestinians accused Israel of assassinating him, while Israeli sources suggested he was killed when a bomb he was working on exploded prematurely.

Also on Monday, Israeli bulldozers demolished a nursery school and apartment block that were under construction in predominantly Arab east Jerusalem.

The Israelis said the buildings lacked proper planning permission. Ahmed Tibi, a prominent Israeli Arab politician, said the demolition would lead to more hatred between Palestinians and Israelis.