United Nations: Strongly condemning Israel's decision to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, India has warned that such a move would worsen the situation, could prove politically counterproductive and lead to increased wave of anger and resultant violence in West Asia.

"His expulsion and removal from the scene would be indefensible in international law. It represents an affront to the Palestinian people as well as the international community at large and must attract severest condemnation," Indian Ambassador to UN Vijay Nambiar told the Security Council on September 15.

Not only would it not serve any constructive purpose, the move would negate all efforts towards reconciliation and have negative impact on the peace process, he stressed.

Participating in a debate on the situation in the Middle East and the Israeli decision, Nambiar also "strongly" condemned all acts of terrorism and violence and asserted that there can be no justification whatsoever for attacks against unarmed civilians, women and children.

"Only a complete cessation of violence can provide conducive environment for a continuation of dialogue," he said.

Nambiar also urged both Palestinians and Israelis to fulfil their obligations under the "Quartet Roadmap" and strongly emphasised that every effort should be made to implement it so that a durable peace and the dream of two states – Palestine and Israel – living within secured and recognised border could be achieved.

Nambiar urged Israel to realise the limitation of its "uni-dimensional" policy that relies on the might of military without recourse to a concomitant political process.

"Its policy of military blockades, curfews and restrictions perpetuate continued dislocation of normal life, economic deprivation, and loss of freedom and further demoralisation of the Palestinian people. This has led, inevitably, to continuing acts of violence and retribution against Israeli forces and civilians," he said.

Pointing out that the humanitarian situation in the Israeli-occupied territories has reached a crisis proportion, Nambiar said the Palestinian economy is in depression with mounting unemployment, deepening levels of poverty, huge income losses and stagnating levels of international assistance.

He urged Israel to lift closures and blockades and ensure unhindered access to humanitarian supplies and the finances released to the Palestinian Authority for alleviating the "grave situation" and averting further crisis.

India, Nambiar said, has always maintained that the only answer to the ongoing violence would be for both sides to resolutely move forward on the path of dialogue and reconciliation.

"There must be no wavering in the face of the gravest provocations posed by extremist elements on both sides who seem to share a common goal namely that of denying peace to their peoples," the Indian Ambassador emphasised and urged both sides to refuse to be provoked.

PTI