UN body urges Israel to dismantle settlements

GENEVA, Nov 27 (Reuters) The UN Human Rights Council overwhelmingly urged Israel today to halt expansion of settlements on occupied land as a first step towards their removal.

A total of 45 countries, including European Union members, Latin American states and Japan, voted in favour of the resolution proposed by Arab and other Islamic countries, with only Canada voting against and Cameroun abstaining.

The resolution, similar to others approved in the past by the old Human Rights Commission which the Council replaced earlier this year, called on Israel to take ''serious measures'' to prevent settlers attacking Palestinians.

It urged parties in the area to renew efforts to achieve peace and a comprehensive political settlement in order to create a situation ''which will allow two states, Israel and Palestine, to live in peace and security''.

In a speech urging the 47-member Council to reject the resolution, Israel's ambassador Itzhak Levanon said he had asked the Palestinian delegation to support its withdrawal in the light of the weekend ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

This would have given ''an indication of their positive and constructive intention'', he declared.

The resolution, Levanon said, failed to take account of Israel's dismantling of settlements in Gaza and the north of the occupied territories last year -- ''unilateral moves which only served to create an ever-worsening security situation for Israeli civilians''.

REUTERS LL HT2335