http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=10/31/01&Cat=2&Num=012

UN Report Presses Israel to Accept Peacekeepers

UNITED NATIONS -- A U.N. Human Rights investigator pressed Israel on Monday to accept peacekeepers in the Middle East... The Palestinians have been lobbying for some type of UN monitors in the West Bank and Gaza for years, but Israel has flatly opposed an international force in the region.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has repeatedly blocked action in the UN Security Council to impose such a force ... But UN Rights prober John Dugard of South Africa said international monitors or peacekeepers had been effective in many less threatening situations around the world "and there is no reason why the occupied Palestinian territories should be treated differently." ... Peace would not come until Israel gave clear signs of its intent to end the occupation, he sa id.