ISRAEL TO PROCEED WITH EXPULSIONS

Israel ignored world condemnation Jan. 7, pressing ahead with plans to expel 12 Palestinians from the occupied territories.

Israeli officials called the UN condemnation by a 15-0 vote Jan. 6 one-sided and bitterly criticized the United States for supporting the resolution.

The Jewish state announced the expulsions Jan. 2 after the fourth killing of an Israeli in the territories in 10 weeks.

Yossi Ben-Aharon, a top aide to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and a key negotiator in Middle East peace talks, accused the US of bowing to Arab demands to ensure their presence at the talks. Palestinian leaders said the vote would pave the way for negotiators to rejoin the talks, which had been due to resume in Washington Jan. 7.

Israel has expelled 66 Palestinians since the uprising began in the occupied territories. The Security Council condemns the expulsions as a violation of international law; Washington insists suspected wrongdoers should be tried fairly in court and jailed if found guilty.