Ambassador Wolff: Good evening. As you've heard already, we had a thorough discussion of the situation on the ground today. We shared our view on the -- (audio break) -- the root cause underlying the problems that we are facing in the region, and that is Hamas's continued rocket attacks and violence.

The efforts we are making nationally are designed to establish a sustainable, durable cease-fire that's respected by all. And that means no more rocket attacks; it means no more smuggling of arms; it means the beginning of reopening checkpoints under the 2005 agreement and provisions under that agreement -- Hamas rockets to put (in threat?) 300,000 Israeli citizens and continue to allow Hamas to bring the deprivation of the Palestinian population in Gaza suffering as a result of that action.

As you've heard, we were not able to come to an agreement on any product today. It is our firm view that Hamas is in violation, and has been, since the calm was agreement to, since Resolution 1850 was adopted, and since the press statement was issued last week.

We don't see any prospect for Hamas abiding by these terms, and issuing a statement at this time that would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success would not do credit to the Council.

(Cross talk.)

Reporter: (Inaudible) -- question. Did you oppose having an open meeting on this issue tonight?

Ambassador Wolff: The issue did not come up.

Reporter: Nobody raised it?

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, you made no mention, sir, of any Israeli violation of those agreements that you've referred to, particularly in the opening of the crossings.

And then there is a major development today, which is Israel's land attack and that's threatening to kill hundreds of civilians. Doesn't this deserve some request for Israel, at least, as many

others, including the SG, did to stop its ground military attacks, sir?

Ambassador Wolff: Well, again, we're not going to equate the actions of Israel, a member state of the United Nations, with the actions of the terrorist group Hamas. There is no equivalence there.

This Council has spoken on many times about the concerns we had about Hamas's military attacks on Israel. The charter of this organization respects the right of every member state to exercise its self-defense, and Israel's self-defense is not negotiable.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, you have accepted last Saturday the content of a press statement by the Security Council. You were offered this tonight by the Libyan delegation to upgrade that press statement to a presidential statement.

Since -- what I don't understand, since you agreed to the first and the content of the first press statement, why is there refusal just to show the urgency, to show the Council deep concern, to upgrade the press statement to a presidential statement tonight?

Ambassador Wolff: Again, I don't think it does the Council any good and it doesn't do a service to the parties in the region to issue statements that aren't going to be adhered to by the parties.

And if Hamas is -- who has been rejecting calls for a durable cease-fire, a cessation to rocket attacks, an end to smuggling, and which has also resulted in the inability to open the crossings, issuing another statement, that their -- that it will be violated or simply consolidates their ability to maintain rockets and continue smuggling is not an answer and is not going to bring peace.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, what is your reaction to the president of the General Assembly coming out and saying that the Security Council is dysfunctional and is not acting in a reasonable and rational manner when, in large measure, he has in mind the blocking position of the

United States of America?

Ambassador Wolff: I would urge him to focus on the dysfunctionality elsewhere in this organization.

Reporter: (Off mike) -- Mr. Ambassador, the humanitarian situation for the ordinary people of Gaza?

Ambassador Wolff: Can you repeat the question, please?

Reporter: Are you addressing the humanitarian issue of the people, the ordinary people on Gaza?

Ambassador Wolff: Yes. Thank you for -- that's a very important point, and that was reiterated by every member of the Council, the concern for the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.

We, as a -- on a national basis, are doing our utmost, and I think we're the largest single contributor to relief efforts, through UNRWA and other mechanisms. We are urging the Israelis to do everything they possibly can to protect civilians.

And this is an important point that's often lost in our discussions, the distinction between the Palestinian people of Gazaand Hamas. Hamas, which is hiding amongst the population, reports of utilizing mosques, educational institutions, civil organizations -- civic organizations, to stockpile weapons and to shoot rockets from and then to seek refuge after they've shot rockets from. The plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza is directly attributable to Hamas.

Reporter: But Hamas was -- (off mike) -- it represents the people, because they voted, over 70 percent of them, for Hamas in the last election.

Ambassador Wolff: Hamas usurped the legitimate authority of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.

Reporter: (Off mike) -- boxes, didn't they?

Reporter: Ambassador Wolff, there -- Karen AbuZayd of UNRWA talked about specifically the targeting of these cadets, these police cadets, that she said only joined the police because they have no other job, but then were targeted as somehow Hamas members.

Do you feel that that's a legitimate -- do you feel that anyone that joins any Hamas-affiliated organization in Gaza is a legitimate target?

Ambassador Wolff: Well, again, if they are operating with Hamas and pursuing the policies of Hamas, they are Hamas.

Reporter: So people performing police functions in Gaza, for example, for the Hamas government, that that makes them --

(Cross talk.)

Ambassador Wolff: Again, I'm not going to get into the details of this. Again, we're not --

The problems that the civilians are facing in Gaza are a function of how Hamas operates in a very densely populated area, with Hamas deliberately -- deliberately -- melding into the population.

The consequences, if they were serious about civilian populations, they wouldn't pursue the actions they're pursuing.

Last question.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, do you foresee a resolution that you would propose over the next few days that would be acceptable to you in terms of making something go forward or, in the alternative, waiting until the hostilities cease to actually propose something to follow up?

Ambassador Wolff: I think, again, the important point to focus on here is establishing the understanding of what type of cease-fire we're talking about, and to ensure that it's durable, and to ensure that it's lasting, and to ensure that we don't return to a situation that-- that led to the current situation.

We are working, as others are -- there are many efforts. Arab governments are involved, President Sarkozy is traveling to the region, senior Russian officials, President Bush and Secretary Rice are deeply engaged daily on this effort. And so that is our objective, to try to get that type of durable cease-fire.

Reporter: Is what you're saying it's better to continue negotiations rather than -- (off mike)?

Ambassador Wolff: I think for the Security Council effort to succeed we need a sound underpinning, and that will come from the region.

Thank you very much.