1.   Assembly resolutions have often been a vehicle for criticizing Israel.

2.   Although nonbinding, the EU assembly resolution added pressure on EU foreign ministers who will discuss sanctions at a meeting in Luxembourg Monday.

3.   Approval would be largely symbolic as assembly resolutions are not binding.

4.   At U.N. headquarters in New York, European Union diplomats were trying to persuade the Palestinians to soften language in their draft of an assembly resolution.

5.   But the Japanese are seeking support for an assembly resolution authorizing the global conference, which could then lay groundwork for a treaty to control trafficking.

6.   But Japan is seeking support for an assembly resolution authorizing a global conference, as the report recommends, on the illicit trade in small arms.

7.   The assembly resolution was supported mostly by developing nations, including Arab states.

8.   The European Union successfully softened the assembly resolution to make it somewhat more balanced.

9.   The European Union successfully softened the assembly resolution.

10.   Assembly resolutions are non-binding, while the Security Council can adopt binding measures for the world body.