Bert Raphael {"One-sided resolution" March 14} accuses the Security Council, in its resolution on the Palestine/Israel conflict of March 13, of "not being even-handed, and incorporate into the resolution a right for Israel to exist behind secure borders". This is contrary to fact. The resolution spoke of " affirming a vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine,live side- by- side within secure and recognised borders." Interestingly, Israel's UN ambassador, Yehuda Lancy stated that he welcomed a "balanced" Security Council resolution on the Middle East which he called "a rare and reasonable occurence."

The charge against the Security Council of bias, in favor of Israel, is, of course, perfectly valid, in view of U.S continuing use of its veto against every resolution calling for international observers in the area where continuing killing of civilians, by both sides, and Israeli extra-judicial execution of Palestinians, and demolition of their homes and other crimes occuring on a virtually daily basis.

Mr. Raphael repeats the Zionist tale that the Palestinians rejected the 1947 Partition Scheme and the Arab states invaded Israel. The Palestinians did reject the scheme because it was unjust. The Jews in Palestine in 1947 constituted one third of the population and owned 5.6% of the land, and were assigned by this resolution, for a Jewish state, 56% of the country. This UN General assembly resolution was passed under pressure and intimidation by the US, as affirmed by US Under-Secretary of State Sumner Welles :" By direct order of the White House, every form of pressure, direct and indirect, was used to make sure that the necessary majority would be gained." As to the invasion by Arab states, Israel had expelled 350,000 Palestinian refugees and occupied many cities and towns, like Jaffa and Acre, which were assigned for the Palestinian state, before a single Arab soldier entered Palestine on May 15, 1948.