Arab States in UN Contest Israel's Right to Represent Territories

"I'm sure the US is against us," [Khalil Makkawi] said, "and so are most of the European countries." The Arab Group is "concentrating our efforts on the African groups, Islamic groups, the Latin and Asian countries, all the other groups." Charles Gustafson, a professor of international law at Georgetown University Law Center, who has worked with the American delegation, says, "I don't see any practical effect of a resolution or amendment like this. You've got existing resolutions from way back to the '67 war, and Israel's failure to comply for a host of reasons." Makkawi feels the Arab Group has seized upon an idea whose time has come. "In view of the historical situation [failure to expel Israel] and what's happening in the Gulf and on the international scene," Makkawi explains, "this year it was decided to have a new approach."